INAUGURAL  SERMON 


PREACHED  AT 


JAMAICA  PLAIN  (WEST  ROXBUEY), 


April  24,  1859. 


BY  JAMES  W.  THOMPSON. 


'/A". 


^ublisfjeb  bg  Request. 


BOSTON: 

CROSBY,  NICHOLS,  AND  COMPANY, 

117,  Washington  Street. 


1859T,iE  LIBR.T.Y  OF  THE 


I 


r 


®|e  <®mt  Cummission : 


INAUGURAL  SERMON 


PREACHED  AT 


JAMAICA  PLAIN  (WEST  ROXBURY), 


April  24,  1859. 


BY  JAMES  W.  THOMPSON. 


Ipublis^eb  bg  |Uqitest. 


BOSTON: 

CROSBY,  NICHOLS,  AND  COMPANY, 

117,  Washington  Street. 

1859. 


1 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED  BY  JOHN  WILSON  AND  SON, 
22,  School  Street. 


Matt.  x.  7,  8:  “ And,  as  ye  go,  preach,  saying,  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is 
at  hand.  Heal  the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast 
out  devils:  freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.” 

When  these  words  had  passed  from  the  lips  of  the 
Son  of  man,  the  New  Dispensation,  of  which  he  was 
the  Mediator,  was  fairly  inaugurated.  Till  then,  it  had 
existed  only  in  prophecy,  in  vision,  in  the  thoughts  of 
devout  men  who  waited  for  the  consolation  of  Israel, 
and  in  those  rudimentary  preparations  by  which  the 
Twelve  had  been  educated  for  receiving  their  august 
commission,  and  for  doing  the  superhuman  work  it 
imposed.  Now  it  becomes  a fact,  palpable,  to  be 
known  and  read  of  all  men ; central  and  centralizing 
to  the  thought,  imagination  and  genius,  the  philo- 
sophy and  literature,  the  faith  and  aspiration,  of 
the  whole  human  world;  potent  with  self-evolving 
powers,  which  no  demands  can  ever  exhaust,  and  no 
opposition  effectually  resist ; destined  also  to  universal 
recognition,  and  a sway  without  limit  in  space  or 
time.  No  longer  is  it  a sublime  conception  alone  in 
the  mind  of  Christ,  an  abstract,  formless,  inoperative 


4 


force  in  his  bosom;  no  longer  a stupendous  plan 
struggling  to  actualize  itself,  but  waiting  opportunity. 
Its  hour  is  come,  the  fulness  of  the  time ; and  now  it 
shall  stand  forth  a majestic  reality,  a church,  a king- 
dom, and  the  amazing  achievement  it  contemplates 
be  at  once  commenced. 

Regarded  in  the  issues  it  involved,  this  was  the 
grandest  moment  in  human  history;  which,  indeed, 
was  not  a moment,  but  an  age,  and  series  of  ages, 
spreading  out  indefinitely,  covering  all  time,  extend- 
ing into  eternity,  and  peopling  the  heavens  with 
earth-cradled  saints.  Could  the  Twelve  have  foreseen 
the  consequences  with  which  it  was  fraught ; had  they 
even  apprehended,  with  any  approach  to  its  full  ex- 
tent, the  personal  responsibilities  it  would  cast  upon 
them,  and  the  career  of  peril  and  hardship  it  was 
opening  before  them,  — they  would  have  shrunk  from 
the  undertaking,  appalled  by  its  fearful  magnitude 
and  endless  relations. 

So  it  is  always.  Every  man  holds  in  his  bosom 
possibilities  yet  to  be  made  actual,  which,  if  they 
could  be  laid  before  him  in  one  view,  would  utterly 
overwhelm  and  confound  him.  The  futurity  of  our 
own  being  is,  therefore,  wisely  concealed  from  us.  No 
prophecy  discloses  it.  Dark  shadows  are  hung  over 
it,  hiding  even  from  imagination  the  developments  of 
which  the  germs  lie  hid  within,  and  which  are  to 
become  personal  history.  Could  any  one,  — the 


5 


youth,  for  instance,  just  emerging  into  manhood  ; the 
teacher,  with  his  young  charge  around  him ; the  man 
of  business,  his  head  teeming  with  enterprises ; the 
rich  man,  with  golden  opportunities  of  usefulness ; 
the  maiden  at  her  bridal  hour,  in  the  flush  of  beauty, 
and  amidst  the  tears  and  rejoicings  which  lend  a 
chastened  brilliancy  to  the  dear  but  solemn  rite ; the 
minister  of  religion,  entering  the  sphere  of  his  ap- 
pointed service,  and  assuming  his  holy  trusts  and  cares 
with  immortal  beings  so  wonderfully  organized,  so 
variously  endowed,  in  capacities  so  unequal,  in  sensi- 
bilities, affections,  cravings,  aims,  so  unlike,  for  the 
field  he  is  to  tend  and  till,  — could  these  take  in  at  a 
glance  all  the  issues  involved  in  their  several  positions, 
the  view  would  paralyze  them;  they  would  shrink 
from  the  responsibilities  ; they  would  be  incapacitated 
for  pursuing  the  good  bound  up  for  them  in  the  vast 
and  various  combination  of  results.  It  is  no  denial  of 
a privilege,  then,  but  a gracious  ordination  of  Heaven, 
that  we  must  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight ; that  the 
soul’s  path  is  illuminated,  not  by  the  dazzling 
effulgence  of  an  all-comprehending  knowledge,  but 
by  the  mild  stars  of  promise  and  hope.  Count  it  not 
misfortune,  but  rather  advantage,  that  to-morrow  is 
hid ; and  what  it  may  bring  forth,  shrouded  in  mist. 
In  calm  trust,  wait  the  revelation. 

All  history  is  a series  of  surprises,  the  rudiments 
of  which,  as  also  their  order  of  evolution,  were  laid 


6 


in  the  bosom  of  the  first  man  when  God  breathed 
into  him  a living  soul.  Higher,  grander,  more  won- 
derful they  become  as  the  ages  roll  on,  displaying 
more  and  more  His  wisdom  who  planned  them. 
Observe  their  sublime  unfoldings  with  grateful  reve- 
rence, but  seek  not  to  know  them  before  the  time. 
Secret  things  belong  to  God  only,  and  are  to  be  dis- 
closed, not  when  man’s  curiosity  asks,  but  when  His 
pleasure  determines.  The  ignorance  of  the  Twelve, 
when  they  stood  before  their  Lord  to  receive  their 
high  commission,  was  their  content  and  safety ; not 
to  know  or  to  be  able  to  forecast  the  future,  their 
wisdom  and  strength. 

I have  said,  and  repeat,  that  the  date  of  the  apos- 
tles’ commission  was  the  sublimest  moment  in  human 
history.  Whether  viewed  in  the  contrasts  it  exhibits, 
— so  much  power  blended  with  so  much  weakness,  — 
the  Son  of  God  intrusting  to  twelve  rude,  unlettered 
men  of  a benighted  province,  speaking  the  poor  dia- 
lect of  a language  scarcely  known  abroad,  a work  so 
stupendous ; or  whether  contemplated  in  the  results 
to  be  wrought  out,  — the  overthrow  of  hoary  idola- 
tries and  proud  philosophies,  which  boasted  as  their 
founders  the  highest  names  known  amongst  men; 
the  enthroning  of  a new  Man,  of  obscure  origin,  a 
Galilean,  as  sovereign  in  the  realm  of  spiritual  truth, 
before  whose  imperial  sway  Grecian  culture  should 
bow  its  garlanded  head,  and  Roman  bravery  lay  down 


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its  invincible  arms;  the  erection  of  a world-wide 
empire,  that  should  at  length  swallow  up  every  other, 
and  itself,  permeated  in  every  part  by  the  spirit  of 
truth  and  love,  be  transfigured  into  a church  uni- 
versal, without  spot  or  blemish,  — whether  beheld  in 
either  of  these  points  of  view,  nothing  sublimer  can 
be  imagined  as  transpiring  on  earth  than  the  act  of 
Jesus  in  sending  forth  his  apostles. 

But  the  commission  they  received  did  not  die  with 
them.  It  is  of  abiding  force,  renewed  from  genera- 
tion to  generation ; keeping  alive  a perpetual  apostle- 
ship  to  repeat  the  same  glad  tidings,  and  to  perform 
the  same  ministries  of  mercy.  To-day  we  hear  the 
voice  which  the  Twelve  heard,  saying,  “Go,  and 
proclaim,  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.  Heal 
the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out 
devils:  freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.” 

Listening  reverently  to  the  voice,  and  earnestly 
desiring  to  obey  it,  let  us  now  search  into  the  mean- 
ing of  the  message  to  be  announced,  and  into  the 
nature  of  the  work  to  be  done. 

I.  The  message. 

II.  The  work. 

I.  “ The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.”  It  would 
be  a strange  thing  to-day  for  such  a band  of  men, 
starting  together,  to  travel  through  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land,  making  only  this  proclamation. 


8 


Doubtless  there  was  a certain  strangeness,  even  then, 
in  their  appearance  and  words.  But  whatever  of 
singularity  there  might  have  been  was  in  a measure 
relieved  by  a general  preparation  of  the  mind  of  the 
age.  When  they  went  forth  in  Galilee,  Judea,  Sa- 
maria, and  announced  that  the  long-deferred  hope  of 
Israel  was  at  length  accomplished,  that  the  great 
redemption  foretold  from  the  beginning  had  begun  to 
fulfil  itself,  the  people’s  heart  everywhere  was  ready 
to  respond,  “Amen!  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord ! ” Expectation,  kept  alive  and 
transmitted  from  generation  to  generation,  in  each,  as 
it  succeeded,  becoming  more  intense,  was  then  bright- 
ening to  its  culmination ; and  this  prepared  the  people 
for  the  messenger  who  should  proclaim  that  the  time 
of  desire  was  accomplished,  the  day  of  fulfilment  at 
hand.  But  not  what  they  expected  appeared ; and  so 
deep  and  bitter  disappointment,  or  scornful  disbelief 
and  derision,  was  the  first  effect,  when  it  began  to  be 
seen  that  the  new  kingdom  was  no  earthly  monarchy  ; 
its  throne,  no  visible  seat  of  majesty  and  power ; that 
its  laws  were  broader  than  any  civil  polity,  higher  than 
science  had  traversed,  or  art  symbolized,  or  the  loftiest 
forms  of  poetic  speech  more  than  faintly  illustrated. 
Their  visions  of  deliverance,  of  State  grandeur,  of 
overflowing  treasuries  and  irresistible  arms,  — the 
ideal  glory  of  all  human  kingdoms,  — were  to  be 
realized  indeed,  but  in  a way  they  never  dreamed  of. 


9 


Only  as  symbols  were  they  true.  Material  splendor 
and  magnificence  could  only  represent,  and  that  but 
dimly,  the  true  kingdom  of  heaven,  which  cometh 
not  with  observation ; which  embraces  the  world  of 
thought,  desire,  emotion,  affection,  aspiration ; which 
has  the  conscience  for  its  throne,  the  heart  for  its 
palace,  the  eternal  God  for  its  sovereign,  and,  for 
its  conquests  and  trophies,  the  vices  that  destroy  the 
body,  and  the  passions  that  war  against  the  soul.  It 
is  a kingdom  founded  in  everlasting  truths,  and  sus- 
tained by  principles  of  order,  beauty,  and  rectitude, 
which  have  their  root  in  the  Infinite  Mind.  But  its 
truths  and  principles  are  not  subtle  and  incompre- 
hensible abstractions : they  are  all  combined,  ex- 
pressed, and  represented  in  the  life  and  character  of  a 
single  Person,  and  that  Person  no  other  than  the  Son 
of  God.  Thus  the  new  kingdom  is,  in  substance,  a 
new  theocracy,  — God  reigning  over  men,  and  in  the 
midst  of  them ; the  regency  being  vested  in  his  be- 
loved Son.  It  is,  in  other  words,  Christianity  taken 
up  into  a living  man  born  of  the  Highest,  in  his 
bosom  enthroned,  in  his  life  illustrated,  by  his  death 
and  resurrection  completed,  sealed,  established,  as 
supreme  law  and  an  ever-abiding  spiritual  force  over 
man  and  in  man,  to  govern  him,  to  renew  him,  to 
inspire  him,  day  by  day,  till  he  becomes  perfect  as  his 
Father  in  heaven  is  perfect.  It  is  the  Word,  not  in 

the  silence  in  which  it  was  “ in  the  beginning  ” with 

2 


10 


God,  but  spoken  and  speaking;  “the  Word  made  flesh, 
and  dwelling  amongst  us,”  radiant  with  holy  beauty, 
its  heart  beating  and  its  countenance  flushed  with 
divine  love  and  mercy;  the  Word  going  forth  from  lips 
touched  with  living  coals  from  heaven,  to  kindle,  in 
its  progress,  soul  after  soul  into  a quenchless  zeal  for 
truth  and  righteousness,  till  the  holy  fire-baptism  has 
cleansed  and  saved  the  world.  Wherever  the  truths 
and  principles  of  Christianity  are  acknowledged; 
wherever  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  believed  in  so  as  to  be  felt,  loved,  wor- 
shipped; in  whatever  soul  the  Eternal  One  is  con- 
sciously enshrined,  according  to  that  high  axiom  of 
St.  John,  “ He  that  dwelleth  in  love  dwelleth  in  God, 
and  God  in  him,”  — there  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
has  come;  there  the  benign  and  eternal  reign  of 
wisdom  and  love  has  commenced;  there  religion  is 
fulfilling  its  office;  there  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost  are  the  soul’s  abiding  possession. 

It  cannot  be  too  strongly  felt  — what  the  Twelve 
were  instructed  to  proclaim  — that  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  come,  is  here.  We  have  not  to  look 
abroad  for  it,  to  cross  perilous  seas,  to  visit  strange 
lands,  to  inquire  of  the  masters  of  learning,  or  to 
follow  the  guidance  of  new  stars,  in  order  to  find 
its  capital  and  court;  but  to  seek  it  here,  amongst 
ourselves  and  within  ourselves. 

There  are  those  who  are  ever  looking  backward 


11 


for  their  kingdom  of  heaven.  Their  golden  age  is 
far  behind,  — in  buried  glories,  in  perished  institu- 
tions, in  virtues  that  once  flourished,  in  an  innocence 
and  peace  no  more  to  be  repeated.  Their  light  is  the 
lamp  of  memory.  Cities,  empires,  arts,  literatures, 
that  ha passed  away,  are  their  study  and  delight. 
They  live  in  the  past.  There  are  others,  again,  whose 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  in  the  distant  future.  Their 
imagination  is  for  ever  busy  in  portraying  the  scenes 
and  circumstances  of  an  age  yet  to  dawn,  or  a world 
yet  to  come,  which  they  paint  in  hues  of  a brilliancy 
to  which  nothing  in  the  present,  however  enchanting, 
is  worthy  to  be  compared.  This  is  a great  mistake ; 
it  is  to  forget  the  message,  “ The  kingdom  of  heaven 
is  at  handy  God  did  not  exhaust  his  goodness  in  the 
earlier  ages,  nor  has  he  reserved  all  its  outpourings 
for  a future  day.  No : he  has  surrounded  the  present 
with  heavenly  attractions ; crowned  to-day  with  im- 
perial glories;  festooned  the  passing  moments  with 
flowers  fresh-plucked  from  paradise;  brightened  the 
immediate  scene  with  rays  effulgent  as  those  which 
fell  upon  the  world  when  the  morning  stars  sang 
their  first  hymn,  and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted 
for  joy.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  come  in  the 
plenitude  of  its  grace  and  truth.  The  two  great 
commandments  are  its  fundamental  law.  The  incom- 
parable Sermon  on  the  Mount,  the  profound  spiritual 
inductions  of  St.  John,  the  unsurpassed  argumenta- 


12 


tions  and  melting  heart-utterances  of  the  great  apostle 
to  the  Gentiles,  reveal  its  spirit  and  purpose.  It  is 
come,  and  still  coming.  More  and  more,  its  mighty 
energies  are  diffusing  themselves.  Deeper  and  deeper, 
its  great  life  is  searching  the  secret  windings  of  the 
human  heart.  Farther  and  wider  spread  the  rays 
of  its  unclouded  Sun  over  the  waste  places  of  error 
and  the  dismal  vales  of  sin.  Yes,  the  new  kingdom 
is  come.  Its  benignant  sway  is  felt  as  an  instant 
reality.  To  every  community  of  believers  the  saying 
is  true,  “ The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  within  you,”  — 
within  you.  According  to  the  measure  of  their  faith, 
the  King  is  seen  by  them  in  his  beauty  and  royal 
apparel;  his  voice  heard  in  its  awful  authority;  his 
life  perceived  as  impersonated  truth,  virtue,  sanctity, 
hope,  eternal  and  complete.  And  by  them,  in  the 
uprightness  of  their  daily  walk  ; in  the  pureness  of 
their  hearts,  or  the  sigliings  of  their  penitence ; in  the 
overflowings  of  their  mutual  charity,  and  the  holy 
fellowship  of  their  worship;  in  the  steadfastness  of 
their  zeal  for  the  enlargement  of  the  borders  of  Zion, 
and  the  displacement  of  whatever  exalts  itself  against 
the  will  of  God,  — each  day  and  hour,  in  high  places 
and  in  obscurest  corners ; in  the  private  ear  of 
trembling  penitence  and  solitary  struggle,  and  on 
the  house-tops  of  stolid  security  and  luxurious  re- 
pose ; to  the  young,  undisciplined  to  saintly  patience 
and  prayer ; to  the  middle-aged,  imprisoned  in  the 


13 


outward  and  sensuous,  but  striving  to  be  set  free ; to 
the  old,  imploring  God  to  be  their  stay  and  staff,  that 
they  may  depart  in  peace,  — the  announcement  is  to 
be  made,  by  look  and  speech  and  rapturous  song, 
and  that  silent  eloquence  of  the  Spirit’s  grace  which 
is  more  convincing  than  voice  and  words,  44  The 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.”  Such,  then,  is 
the  message. 

II.  And,  now,  what  is  the  work  1 44  Heal  the  sick, 
cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out  devils  : 
freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.”  No  miraculous 
power  rests  on  us  as  on  the  apostles,  and  we  can 
use  only  such  gifts  as  we  receive.  Yet  the  Lord  is 
with  his  faithful  servants  still,  to  aid  them  in  every 
ministration  of  their  hearts  and  hands  to  the  relief 
of  human  suffering  and  woe,  and  the  cure  of  those 
maladies  of  which  sin  is  both  cause  and  consequence. 
Their  work  at  this  day,  though  not  in  all  respects 
identical  with  that  of  the  primitive  heralds  of  the 
gospel,  is  not  essentially  different.  It  is  a service 
of  man  in  the  name  of  Christ,  and  its  characteristic 
feature  is  its  humanity.  It  illustrates  that  saying  of 
an  apostle,  that  pure  religion  is  manifested  in  visiting 
the  widow  and  fatherless  in  their  affliction,  and  in  an 
unspotted  life.  It  is  not,  like  the  priesthood  of  every 
other  religion,  mainly  an  altar-service  or  a ritual 
performance,  a special  work  of  the  temple  and  the 


14 


holy  day  ; but  it  is  a daily  and  continual  offering  at 
the  sweet  shrine  of  kindness  and  mercy, — a life  from 
which  blessed  influences  spring  with  no  sabbath- 
pauses,  rising  as  fragrant  incense  over  man’s  misery, 
and  penetrating,  as  a celestial  aroma,  the  polluted  air 
of  the  world.  It  takes  its  Lord  for  its  model.  As 
he  went  about  healing  the  sicknesses,  soothing  the 
sorrows,  pitying  the  injuries,  lifting  the  burthens,  of 
men  ; so  his  servants  follow  him,  humbly  seeking  to 
make  their  presence  a blessing  and  a joy  to  those 
unto  whom  they  are  sent : and,  as  there  was  no  form 
of  misery  which  did  not  command  his  sympathy,  so 
there  is  none  which  they  can  willingly  overlook.  As 
against  every  inveterate  wrong  under  which  men 
groaned,  however  intrenched  and  defended  by  custom, 
policy,  or  power,  he  lifted  up  his  voice  in  stern  and 
terrible  rebuke ; so  they  turn  the  weapons  of  their 
warfare  upon  all  the  crimes  and  oppressions  that 
fill  the  earth,  or  any  portion  of  it,  with  wailing  and 
tears,  and  that  hinder  the  triumphant  march  of  truth 
and  righteousness  to  their  destined  glory.  Evil, 
the  root  of  evil,  — that  is  to  be  destroyed.  The 
wretchedness  of  man  or  woman  — that  is  to  be  Com- 
miserated. The  tears  that  stream  from  the  eyes  of 
penitence,  or  that  soil  the  cheeks  of  bereavement,  — 
they  are  to  be  wiped  with  hands  of  tender  condolence. 
The  demons  which  sin  conjures  up  into  the  maddened 
brain  — they  are  to  be  rebuked  and  cast  out  by  the 


15 


spirit  of  holiness  and  love.  The  dead  in  trespasses 
and  sins  — they  are  to  be  roused  by  the  trumpet-call 
of  the  gospel,  and,  if  possible,  warmed  into  life  in 
the  bosom  of  Christian  sympathies  and  affections. 
Religion,  as  they  administer  it,  is  the  friend  and  helper 
of  man.  It  multiplies  the  loaves  of  the  poor.  It 
offers  willing  shoulders  to  the  burthens  of  the  weary 
and  careworn.  It  puts  sight  into  the  touch  of  the 
blind,  and  speech  into  the  fingers  of  the  mute.  To 
the  houseless,  it  gives  a home ; to  the  cripple,  a 
hospital;  to  the  wayward  and  intractable  youth,  a 
School  of  Reform ; and  to  the  frail  penitent,  a Refuge 
from  temptation  and  the  scorn  of  the  unfeeling.  It 
watches  with  the  sick,  by  star  and  by  sun,  as  an  angel 
of  peace ; and  it  points  the  faith  of  the  dying  to  the 
eternal  mercy-seat,  and  the  heaven  which  surrounds 
it.  Nor  is  this  all.  Authority  to  heal  and  restore, 
to  bind  up  and  console,  carries  with  it  the  duty  of 
protecting  against  evil.  So  it  seeks  to  purify  and 
elevate  the  fountains  of  social  influence;  to  clarify 
the  springs  of  moral  life ; to  make  the  home,  the 
school,  the  state,  nurseries  of  virtue  and  spiritual 
strength ; and  especially  to  fence  round  the  young, 
just  beginning  the  immortal  race,  with  safeguards  — 
in  their  tastes,  affections,  fears,  and  hopes  — against 
the  approaches  of  temptation,  and  the  fearful  ruin  it 
so  often  succeeds  in  effecting. 

Ah,  how  sadly  has  the  moral  and  humane  part  of 


16 


Christianity  been  neglected  hitherto ! Had  the  gos- 
pel been  exhibited  by  its  servants,  during  the  eighteen 
centuries  of  its  life,  in  the  spirit  of  its  author ; had 
it  been  made  to  appear  more  the  present  friend  and 
benefactor  of  man,  and  less  the  dogmatic  combatant 
or  bigoted  devotee ; had  the  world  seen  it  more  in 
the  acts  of  a genial  messenger  of  deep  and  genuine 
philanthropy,  penetrating  the  darkest  scenes  of  human 
trial  with  a word  to  cheer  and  a hand  to  bless,  and 
less  in  splendid  and  pompous  ceremonies,  obscure 
and  unbelievable  creeds,  and  solemn  pietisms  ; had 
it  borne  on  all  its  banners  waving  over  its  commerce 
and  trade,  proudly  floating  from  its  domes  of  legisla- 
tion and  justice,  unfurled  in  new  and  strange  fields 
by  its  own  soldiers,  that  one  word  which  syllables 
the  dearest  name  of  God,  and  of  which  itself  is  the 
highest  expression,  — the  poor,  the  outcast,  the  en- 
slaved, the  suffering,  everywhere  and  from  every  cause, 
would  not  only  have  been  vastly  reduced  in  numbers, 
but  those  who  still  remained  would  have  been  in 
warm  and  living  sympathy  with  it,  and  so  in  a con- 
dition to  receive  the  fulness  of  its  life  and  light.  Oh ! 
when  shall  the  lesson  taught  by  the  ministry  of  Jesus 
be  understood,  — that  to  protect  the  innocent,  to  guide 
the  young,  to  reclaim  the  wanderer,  to  lift  up  the 
fallen,  to  cheer  the  desponding,  to  encourage  the  peni- 
tent, to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  to  strive  manfully 
against  evil,  and  to  labor  diligently  for  good,  — that 


17 


this  work  of  humanity  is  the  allotted  task  of  each 
disciple  according  to  his  ability,  and  the  only  evidence 
that  will  be  admitted,  in  the  Great  Day,  of  his  fitness 
to  be  a companion  of  that  twice-born  brotherhood  of 
whom  Christ  is  head  \ 

Such,  then,  is  the  message,  and  such  the  work,  of 
the  Christian  ministry.  With  this  message  and  work 
it  has  fallen  to  me,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  be 
charged.  I come  to  you  to-day,  my  friends,  bearing 
the  message,  44  The  kingdom  of  God  is  come  nigh 
unto  you,”  and  charged  in  my  conscience  and  soul,  by 
Him  whose  servant  I am,  to  give  unto  you  freely  that 
which  I also  have  received,  for  your  redemption  from 
sin,  and  edification  in  righteousness ; for  your  security 
amid  the  perils  of  prosperity,  and  your  solace  under 
the  pains  of  adversity ; for  the  solution  of  your 
doubts,  and  the  confirmation  of  your  faith ; for  the 
guidance  of  your  souls  to  the  rest  of  consummated 
virtue  and  saintly  holiness  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father 
of  mercies.  Standing  here,  for  the  first  time,  in  this 
special  relation  to  you,  it  may  well  be  supposed  that 
some  curiosity  is  felt  in  respect  to  the  views  which 
may  govern  the  administration  of  my  office.  But  this 
curiosity,  if  it  exists,  can  be  gratified  only  by  state- 
ments the  most  general.  Young  ministers  are  accus- 
tomed, on  occasions,  like  this,  to  exhibit  a programme 
of  what  may  be  expected  of  them,  and  what  they 
expect  of  their  people;  but  it  is  a programme  which  is 

3 


18 


seldom  followed  on  either  side.  In  the  fervors  of  a 
hitherto  unbaffled  zeal,  they  often  pledge  themselves 
to  herculean  labors,  forgetting  that  it  is  only  sons  of 
Hercules  who  are  equal  to  them.  I offer  to  you 
nothing  of  the  kind.  I cannot  tell  what  I shall 
preach,  and  what  I shall  do  ; save  that,  as  grace  is 
given  to  me,  I will  declare,  and  labor  to  extend,  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  present  amongst  men  in  the  his- 
torical Christ  and  his  word,  and  in  all  hearts  in  which 
the  gospel  has  entered  as  a subjective  reality;  and 
will  seek  to  give  full  effect  here  to  all  those  truths, 
sympathies,  and  charities  which  lighten  the  weight  of 
pain,  disappointment,  sorrow,  and  sin,  and  which  tend 
to  lift  young  and  old,  the  strong  and  the  weak,  the 
fresh  and  the  weary,  into  the  serene  gladness  of  true 
religion.  I would  seek  to  make  doctrine  practical; 
the  highest  truth,  a life  within:  for,  if  left  in  the 
form  of  ideas  in  the  mind,  truth  is  only  like  the  rain- 
drop upon  the  leaf.  It  may  glisten  in  the  sun,  and 
add  a moment’s  brilliancy  to  the  object ; but  it  is  of 
no  service  to  the  tree.  But,  when  ideas  are  translated 
into  principles  and  deeds,  they  are  like  the  raindrops, 
penetrating  to  the  roots,  and  sending  new  energy  and 
vital  sap  into  every  branch.  I am  here  as  a minister 
of  the  New  Testament,  — the  dispensation  of  grace 
and  truth  by  Jesus  Christ.  I am  here,  not  as  one 
called  by  you  simply,  but  sent  by  my  Master,  — both 
mine  and  yours.  Am  I asked  to  indicate  the  basis 


19 


of  my  teaching'?  My  answer  is  in  the  words  of 
Paul  to  the  church  of  Corinth : “ Other  foundation 
can  no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus 
Christ.”  No  new-fangled  gospel  of  to-day  or  yesterday 
or  to-morrow ; but  that  which  is  the  same  yesterday, 
to-day,  and  for  ever,  — unchanging  truth,  immortal 
goodness,  everlasting  life,  the  supreme  authority  and 
dominion  of  Him  who  is  over  all,  and  through  all,  and 
in  us  all.  Taking  my  place  within  the  new  kingdom, 
with  my  people  around  me,  I move  forward  with  it 
in  its  aggressions  upon  the  domains  of  the  world, 
opposing  whatever  would  obstruct  its  march,  and 
giving  my  whole  heart  to  whatever  commends  itself 
to  my  judgment  as  calculated  to  further  its  beneficent 
ends.  Details  are  unnecessary ; but  this  must  be  said, 
this  you  would  all  wish  me  to  say,  that,  as  I hear , so 
shall  I speak  ; trying  to  keep  my  ear  open  to  every 
whisper  of  the  Spirit’s  voice,  and  my  tongue  clear  to 
make  report  thereof  to  you.  Not  taking  counsel 
of  man,  except  for  the  sake  of  his  help  to  the  under- 
standing of  the  word  of  Christ  and  the  law  of  God ; 
not  weakly  yielding  to  the  suggestions  of  fear  or  of  a 
short-sighted  expediency,  nor  defiantly  challenging 
censure  and  opposition ; not  hesitating  to  espouse  an 
unpopular  cause  when  it  bears  the  marks  of  right 
and  truth,  nor  disdaining  that  which  is  popular  from 
a paltry  pride  of  singularity,  or  contempt  of  public 
opinion, — freely  and  fearlessly,  in  the  love  of  man  and 


20 


the  love  of  God,  I pray  that  grace  may  be  given  me 
to  declare  the  whole  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  that 
you  may  have  the  same  grace  to  profit  withal. 

There  has  been  much  controversy  about  the  free- 
dom of  the  pulpit.  I have  but  little  to  say  on  that 
point.  The  pulpit  is  free;  and  no  honest  man  wishes 
it  to  be  otherwise.  By  its  very  nature,  it  is  free.  The 
moment  it  is  restrained  of  its  liberty,  it  ceases  to  be  a 
pulpit,  and  becomes  a piece  of  fancy-work  in  wood, 
with  a speaking  automaton  behind  it.  The  imputa- 
tion of  a desire  to  interfere  with  its  freedom  would 
be  felt,  by  every  honorable  mind,  as  an  insult.  But 
it  is  useless,  and,  worse,  it  is  harmful  folly,  for  it  to  be 
for  ever  vaunting  its  freedom  and  provoking  assaults. 
Let  its  action,  rather  than  its  boastful  lips,  declare 
its  independence ; and  let  it  use  its  freedom  with  dis- 
cretion, lest  it  become  a snare  and  a hinderance  to  the 
truth.  It  is  a sad  mistake  of  the  pulpit,  when  it 
assumes  that  its  hearers  are  at  odds  with  it  on  vital 
points,  and  are  to  be  worried  and  goaded  into  agree- 
ment. Its  function  is  not  to  drive,  but  to  win,  souls 
into  the  fold  of  the  Great  Shepherd,  — 

“ By  winning  words  to  conquer  willing  hearts, 

And  make  persuasion  do  the  work  of  fear.” 


All  here,  in  these  calm  moments  of  meditation,  and 
in  this  vestibule  of  the  heavenly  temple,  are  not 
merely  willing,  but  in  their  souls  demand , that  the 


21 


truth  should  be  preached  freely,  fully,  earnestly,  and 
without  reservation.  Every  ingenuous  mind  would  be 
ashamed  of  the  minister  of  religion  who  should  keep 
back  any  part  of  his  message  from  imbecile  compli- 
ance with  prejudices,  opinions,  or  caprices,  reported 
to  exist  around  him.  Every  true  man  would  cry, 
“ Let  him  be  anathema ! ” He  is  false  to  his  trust ; 
and,  being  so,  is  false  to  his  people. 

But  every  part  of  his  message,  let  him  remember, 
is  to  be  delivered  as  from  the  Lord,  and  not  from 
himself,  in  the  very  spirit  of  his  heavenly  Teacher, 
calmly  and  without  passion ; avoiding  all  harish  and 
irritating  tones  and  terms ; in  the  deepest  reverence  for 
truth,  and  with  that  strong  conviction  of  duty  which 
would  prompt  him  to  say,  “Woe  is  me  if  I preach 
not  the  gospel ! ” Never  let  him  throw  down  the 
gauntlet  to  any  of  his  parishioners,  and  brace  himself 
in  the  attitude  of  a pugilist.  Let  him  assume  that 
they  are  all  his  friends ; as  they  are  ostensibly,  by  the 
fact  of  their  assembling  for  worship  in  the  name  of 
Christ,  his  friends,  and  subjects  of  his  divine  king- 
dom. Contests  between  pastor  and  flock  are  fatal  to 
all  religious  life  and  growth.  If  the  latter  succumb, 
they  feel  that  a galling  priestly  autocracy  is  established 
over  them ; if  the  former,  he  feels  that  the  word  of 
God  is  thenceforth  bound  in  his  person,  and  can  no 
more  utter  itself  except  in  broken  sentences  and  pu- 
sillanimous tones.  Let  all  such  strifes  be  avoided,  as 


22 


leading,  by  a swift  and  sure  decadence,  to  destruc- 
tion. 

The  church  — by  which  I mean  the  congregation 
assembling  for  worship  — is  an  organic  whole,  made 
up  of  members  differing  in  original  endowments,  in 
culture,  in  moral  traits,  in  pursuits,  in  the  measure 
of  their  interest  in  the  great  questions  which  society 
and  religion  agitate,  and  in  many  other  things ; yet 
all  associated  for  common  objects,  and  all  equally 
entitled  to  every  privilege  belonging  to  the  organiza- 
tion. The  incumbent  of  the  pulpit  is,  under  Christ, 
the  head  of  this  body ; standing,  by  consent  of  all,  to 
each  and  every  member  of  it,  without  distinction,  in 
one  and  the  same  relation  ; knowing  no  rich,  no  poor, 
no  party,  no  clique ; a common  centre  of  religious 
influence,  a common  instructor,  guide,  and  friend. 
The  church  is  one  body ; the  ministry,  not  a separate 
estate,  but  a constituent  membership.  This  idea 
excludes  all  hostile  antagonisms,  and  is  the  true  basis 
of  a living  harmony  and  a hopeful  progress.  The 
primitive  apostolic  church,  guided  by  the  inspired 
master-builders  who  laid  its  foundations,  rested  its 
strength  in  its  unity.  Uniformity  of  belief,  thought, 
character,  it  did  not  demand,  but  unity  of  spirit  and 
aim,  — unity  in  the  broad  purposes  for  which  it  was 
gathered,  and  unity  in  the  sense  of  brotherly  fellow- 
ship. It  was  a household  sacred  to  love  and  mutual 
edification,  in  which  the  forbearance,  patience,  charity, 


23 


generosity,  of  the  gospel  were  to  be  freely  exercised ; 
in  which  each  was  to  feel  himself  in  a manner  pro- 
tected by  all ; in  which  the  weak  were  to  find  succor 
in  the  strong;  the  easy  victims  of  temptation,  pity 
from  the  upright  and  secure ; those  who  saw  the 
truth  but  dimly  kept  where  its  beams  fell,  by  those 
who  were  more  fully  enlightened.  If  one  were  over- 
taken in  a fault,  he  was  to  be  — not  exscinded,  not 
held  up  to  scorn,  not  branded  with  the  scarlet  letter, 
but  restored  in  the  spirit  of  Christian  meekness  and 
compassion.  When  it  is  assumed  that  each  member 
of  a church  is  a separate  power  in  it,  — the  minister 
with  the  rest,  — and  those  subtile,  undefinable,  but 
most  potent  relations,  which,  in  its  normal  state,  con- 
stitute its  organic  unity,  are  lost  sight  of ; when  one 
member,  cleric  or  laic,  feels  that  the  church  is  his  to 
bind  and  loose,  to  make  and  unmake,  to  control , instead 
of  regarding  himself  as  belonging  to  it,  as  part  and 
parcel  of  its  vitality  and  working  force,  as  bound  up 
with  it  for  a common  end,  and  obliged  to  view  its 
welfare  as  his  own  personally,  — confusion  and  every 
evil  work  ensue. 

This  must  suffice.  I have  spoken  to  you  of  the 
greatness  of  the  commission  of  the  ministers  of 
the  word,  of  the  meaning  of  their  message,  of  the 
nature  of  their  work,  and  have  indicated  a general 
view  of  the  manner  in  which  it  may  be  expected  that 


24 


the  ministry  will  be  exercised  here.  To  say  that  I 
look  for  your  friendly  co-operation  would  be  needless. 
The  affectionate  smiles  of  the  young,  the  efficient 
good-will  and  support  of  the  middle-aged,  the  genial 
companionship  of  them  whose  day  of  active  labor 
begins  to  put  on  sunset  hues,  — for  these  I look  with 
entire  confidence.  To  feel  that  thev  would  be  withheld, 
would  be  the  signal  for  me  to  retire  at  the  close  of  this 
service.  Equally  unnecessary  would  it  be  to  attempt 
to  point  out  your  duties  in  detail : you  know  them 
already.  You  will  not  expect  from  this  connection 
large  immediate  results.  I come  a sower,  bearing 
seeds  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  — they  are  called  seeds 
of  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost, — 
to  sow  as  one  blind ; not  knowing  whether  in  stony 
places  or  on  good  ground,  but  committing  the  whole 
field  to  the  nurture  of  Heaven’s  sun  and  rain.  This 
seed  is  of  slow  growth:  spiritual  harvests  are  not 
ripened  in  a day  or  a year.  Let  us  pray,  that,  in  the 
end  of  the  world , — your  world  and  mine,  — the  angel 
reapers  may  find  some  sheaves  here  fit  to  be  gathered 
into  the  Father’s  garner.  Let  us  take  encouragement 
from  the  old  promise,  “ He  that  goeth  forth  and 
weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come 
again  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him.”  The 
day  itself  is  auspicious,  — the  day  which  saw  Him 
rise,  in  whom  the  world  is  risen  into  a new  hope,  and 
rising  still  into  a new  life,  — the  day  which  gave  to 


25 


man  victory  over  the  grave,  and  made  him  fellow-heir 
with  angels  to  the  infinite  treasures  of  God.  Let  us 
borrow  from  it  all  hopeful  and  cheering  auguries,  and 
go  forward  to  the  duties  of  our  sacred  relation, 
and  continue  in  them,  as  under  the  light  and  joyful 
inspiration  of  Easter  morning.  “ For  this  cause  I 
bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  — of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  named,  — that  he  would  grant  you,  according 
to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be  strengthened  with 
might  by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner  man ; that  Christ 
may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith ; that  ye,  being 
rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be  able  to  com- 
prehend with  all  saints  what  is  the  breadth  and 
length  and  depth  and  height ; and  to  know  the  love 
of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might 
be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God. 

“ Now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding 
abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according 
to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us, — unto  Him  be  glory 
in  the  church  by  Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all  ages, 
world  without  end.  Amen.” 


4 


A 


iale&tag  ^mawxst 


DELIVERED  IN 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH,  BEVERLY, 


July  4,  1858. 


By  CHRISTOPHER  T.  THAYER. 


|)ublisf}eb  b|i  Request. 


BOSTON: 

CROSBY,  NICHOLS,  AND  COMPANY, 

117,  Washington  Street. 

1858. 


PRINTED 


BOSTON: 

BY  JOHN  WILSON  AND  SON, 


22,  School  Street. 


G? 


per  o 

U'J  u. 

T53v 


DISCOURSE 


When,  my  friends,  some  months  since,  I was  led  by  the 
providence  of  God,  and  by  duty  to  others  and  myself,  to 
decide  on  resigning  the  pastoral  office  I had  long  sustained 
among  you,  a tide  of  emotion  came  over  me  such  as  I had 
never  before  experienced,  and  could,  only  under  like  cir- 
cumstances, be  realized.  How  could  it  be  otherwise,  in  view 
of  dissolving  the  holy  relation  that  had  subsisted  between  us 
for  much  the  largest  part  of  my  life,  and  of  the  lives  of  most 
of  you,  — longer  than  no  small  portion  of  our  number  have 
lived ; with  all  its  duties  and  pleasures ; its  toils  and  cares 
and  trials ; its  tender  friendships  and  delights  of  sacred  con- 
fidence ; its  sweet  communions  in  the  temple,  at  the  table 
of  remembrance,  in  the  social  circle,  within  the  domestic 
retreat,  in  the  chamber  of  sickness,  the  house  of  mourning 
and  death ; all  the  scenes,  joyous  or  sorrowful,  of  weal  or 
woe,  of  the  soul’s  discipline,  through  which  we  have  to- 
gether been  led  ? Prominent  among  the  emotions  thus 
excited  was  gratitude  that  our  mutual  esteem  and  affection 
were  unabated,  but  rather  strengthened,  or  at  least  more 
sensibly  felt,  at  thought  of  the  dissolution  of  our  connec- 
tion as  pastor  and  people ; and  that  1 might  leave  you 
/ 


A 


4 


strong  in  yourselves ; strong,  I trust,  also  in  the  Lord  ; and 
prosperous,  — prospering  most  in  the  things  belonging  to 
your  higher  welfare.  Above  all  was  the  sense  of  accounta- 
bility for  the  discharge  of  the  unspeakably  important  trust 
committed  to  me,  in  which  were  involved  the  rise  or  fall, 
the  great  and  lasting  good,  the  very  salvation  it  might  be, 
of  many ; and  God  only  knows  the  sincerity  and  fervor  of 
the  supplication  which  it  prompted,  and  which  rose  from  this 
bosom,  for  his  merciful  forgiveness  of  any  unfaithfulness  of 
mine  to  that  trust.  Then  there  was  regret,  not  unlike  that 
which  the  sensitive  spirit  often  feels  for  friends  gone  from 
earth  or  about  departing,  that  I had  not  contributed  more 
to  the  improvement  and  happiness  of  those  from  whom,  as 
their  appointed  spiritual  teacher  and  friend,  I was  soon  to 
be  separated. 

Instead,  however,  of  yielding  to  vain  regrets,  I resolved 
and  endeavored  to  redeem  the  time ; to  make  my  last  days 
in  your  service  my  best ; to  render  departure,  if  possible, 
more  fruitful  than  permanence ; and  so,  in  my  humble 
measure,  to  resemble  those  who,  by  their  deaths,  have  done 
more  than  by  their  lives.  And  I rejoice  to  bear  testimony, 
that,  in  this  effort,  you  have  cordially,  efficiently,  nobly 
co-operated.  The  period  that  has  intervened  has  for  me, 
in  truth,  been  occupied  with  “ crowded  life.”  Years  have 
seemed  compressed  into  months ; these  into  weeks ; and  so 
with  minuter  divisions  of  time.  Time,  nevertheless,  wait- 
ing for  none,  has  kept  on  in  its  course ; and  now  the  sha- 
dow on  the  dial,  the  hand  on  the  hour,  as  a guide-post  on 
the  way  in  the  journey  of  life,  indicates  unerringly  that  the 
point  of  divergence  has  been  reached,  and  that  the  parting 
words  must  be  spoken.  It  only  remains,  therefore,  for  us 
to  gather  up,  and  give  fit  utterance  to,  the  recollections, 


5 


lessons,  purposes,  feelings,  and  hopes  appropriate  to  the 
occasion. 

In  so  doing,  I will  adopt  for  my  text,  and  as  correspond- 
ing to  the  first  and  chief  topic  on  which  I shall  speak,  the 
language  of  the  Apostle  Paul  in  his  First  Epistle  to  the  Co- 
rinthians (xv.  1 and  2)  : “ Moreover,  brethren,  I declare 
unto  you  the  gospel  which  I preached  unto  you,  which  also 
ye  have  received,  and  wherein  ye  stand ; by  which  also  ye 
are  saved,  if  ye  keep  in  memory  what  I preached  unto  you, 
unless  ye  have  believed  in  vain.”  So  would  I,  in  humble 
imitation  of  the  apostolic  chief,  recall  to  your  memory  what 
for  many  years  I have  preached  to  you ; which  you  have  so 
candidly  received ; in  which,  I trust,  you  are  firmly  esta- 
blished ; and  which,  if  not  unduly  presuming,  I would 
hope  may  so  far  accord  with  the  gospel  of  Christ,  which  is 
the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  as  — by  being  kept  in 
living  remembrance,  and  believed,  not  in  vain,  but  practi- 
cally and  with  the  heart  — to  issue  in  the  saving  of  our 
souls.  It  cannot  be  otherwise  than  well  for  us,  before  we 
part,  to  attend  thus  to  a main  branch  of  my  ministerial 
office,  — to  its  objects,  the  mode  of  its  discharge,  and  espe- 
cially to  the  views  I have  aimed  to  present  and  inculcate. 

Preaching  is  a most  important  part  of  the  Christian 
minister’s  duty.  The  command,  “ Preach  the  word,”  — 
given  to  the  earliest,  and  intended  to  apply  to  all  succeed- 
ing, teachers  of  Christianity,  — he  will,  if  rightly  inclined, 
labor  earnestly  to  obey.  He  will  spare  no  exertions  he  can 
properly  make  to  prepare  himself  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  this  essential  function.  For  this  will  he  be  much 
in  prayer,  in  meditation,  in  study,  in  fervent  and  persever- 
ing exercise  of  his  intellectual  and  moral  faculties.  For 
this,  also,  there  must  be  system.  Without  system  of  some 


6 


sort,  no  science  or  art  — certainly  not  the  science  of  divine 
truth,  and  the  art  of  living  a holy  life  — can  be  well  taught 
or  well  learned.  Christian  preaching,  in  short,  to  be  best 
executed,  and  accomplish  its  legitimate  ends,  must  be 
thoroughly  systematic.  Not  that  this  trait,  wherever  ex- 
isting, will  be  invariably  manifest  and  recognized.  When 
pulpit  instruction  proceeds  on  a fixed,  well-defined,  com- 
prehensive plan  in  the  preacher’s  mind,  that  plan  may 
still  not  always  be  obvious  to  the  hearer,  who  may  be  un- 
able, while  following  out  its  details,  to  keep  steadily  in  view 
its  outlines.  The  fluctuating  nature  of  our  congregations 
tends  peculiarly  to  prevent  many  from  comprehending  and 
remembering  it.  From  various  causes,  the  aspect  of  reli- 
gious assemblies  is  constantly  changing  ; the  presence  of 
those  composing  them  being,  for  reasons  sufficient  or  in- 
sufficient, in  large  proportion,  irregular  and  uncertain. 
Owing  to  the  number  from  among  us  engaged  in  seafaring 
life  and  pursuits  abroad,  our  own  congregation  is  subject 
to  more  than  common  fluctuation  of  attendance.  Thus, 
and  in  various  other  ways  readily  suggesting  themselves, 
are  most  of  the  members  prevented  from  forming  a con- 
nected view  of  the  system  of  preaching,  if  such  there  be, 
pursued  by  him  who  statedly  fills  the  sacred  desk.  For  its 
comprehension,  it  therefore  becomes  necessary  occasionally 
(and  than  this  no  time  could  be  more  suitable)  to  direct 
our  eye  back  on  the  whole  track  gone  over ; to  observe  the 
lights  that  have  illumined  and  guided  our  progress ; to 
review  the  general  principles  on  which  we  have  proceeded ; 
to  group,  as  it  were  in  one,  the  different  views  that  have 
been  taken.  We  may  thus  have  in  our  mind’s  eye  a map 
of  the  region  traversed  ; just  as  the  traveller  ascends  the 
topmost  peak  or  dome,  that  he  may  take  in  at  a glance 


7 


the  varied  features  of  the  landscape  through  which  he  has 
passed.  By  so  doing,  he  obtains  more  exact  and  vivid 
impressions  of  the  whole  scene  ; discerns  its  lights  and 
shades,  its  beauties  and  defects ; learns  the  bearings,  dis- 
tances, and  magnitudes  of  the  principal  objects ; ascertains 
in  what  respects  his  way  might  be  improved ; and  fixes  in 
his  memory  landmarks  for  his  direction  hereafter.  So  may 
we  receive  juster  ideas  of  the  nature  and  relative  impor- 
tance of  the  truths  and  rules  to  which  we  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  listen  together ; be  assisted  to  correct  the  errors 
taught  or  imbibed ; and  as  seekers  of  heavenly  knowledge, 
and  pilgrims  to  the  celestial  land,  the  better  to  shape  our 
future  course,  by  an  impartial,  full  survey  of  the  system 
of  religious  teaching  that  has  with  us  been  pursued. 

The  plan  of  preaching  I have  adopted,  and  endeavored 
to  carry  out,  has  been  based  on  the  belief,  that  Christianity 
is  at  once  a profound  science  to  be  acquired,  and  an  im- 
mense field  of  duty  to  be  explored  and  cultivated.  Reli- 
gion is  as  much  a science  as  any  subject  for  man’s  investi- 
gation can  be.  It  has  its  appropriate  provinces  for  inquiry, 
its  general  principles  and  laws,  its  peculiar  sources  of  truth 
and  evidence.  All  these  it  has  been  my  aim  to  discover, 
and  to  draw  from  in  such  degrees  as  should  best  subserve 
the  grand  purposes  for  which  preaching  was  divinely  insti- 
tuted. 

Taking  the  Bible  as  the  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  I 
have  sought  to  show  it  worthy  to  be  so  received  by  proofs 
from  within  and  without  itself,  — such  as  the  credibility, 
interest,  and  value  of  its  contents ; their  revelations  of  sur- 
passing sublimity,  beauty,  joy,  hope,  awe,  of  wisdom  re- 
lating to  this  world  and  the  one  to  come ; their  practical 
design  and  admirable  adaptation  to  its  furtherance;  their 


8 


consistency  ^with  the  operations  of  Providence  and  with 
human  experience  ; their  conformity  to  the  teachings  of 
nature  and  reason ; and  the  support  they  derive  from  cre- 
dible historical  testimony,  especially  from  their  own  history 
and  influence,  ever  since  they  were  given  to  men.  The 
truths,  which  on  careful  inquiry  I have  obtained  from  them, 
have,  as  seemed  fitting  and  requisite,  been  presented  to 
you,  together  with  the  grounds  on  which  they  rest.  Their 
precepts  have  been  laid  before  you,  as  circumstances  ap- 
peared to  demand,  in  what  I conceived  their  length  and 
breadth,  and  application  to  the  whole  duty  of  man.  The 
examples  they  set  forth  of  the  great  and  good,  and  of  the 
low  and  bad,  have  been  held  up  as  models  or  warnings  for 
our  conduct.  The  illustrations  which  the  historical  parts 
of  Scripture  receive  from  and  impart  to  cotemporaneous 
common  history,  have,  as  opportunity  offered,  been  re- 
marked. Characters  and  events,  whether  pertaining  to 
individuals  or  communities,  have  been  drawn  from  other 
quarters  besides  the  sacred  records,  and  employed  for  in- 
struction, admonition,  and  encouragement,  and  thus  made 
to  give  light  and  enforcement  to  abstract  truths  and  rules. 
Events  particularly,  occurring  within  the  sphere  of  our  own 
experience,  and  appealing  directly  to  our  own  hearts,  have 
from  time  to  time  been  noticed ; and  I have  felt  that  such 
events,  prosperous  or  adverse,  or  however  affecting  us,  if 
duly  improved  by  the  preacher,  might  be  eloquent  and 
effective  preachers  of  righteousness,  — be  indeed  minister- 
ing spirits  sent  from  above  to  sanctify  and  save.  In  truth, 
wherever  in  any  of  the  departments  of  nature ; in  any  of  the 
sciences  and  arts ; in  any  of  the  manners  and  customs,  laws 
and  institutions,  prevailing  or  that  have  prevailed ; in  any 
of  the  beings  or  things  throughout  the  material  or  spiritual 


9 


universe,  — lessons  of  religious  wisdom  might  be  gathered, 
and  motives  for  obedience  to  them  gained,  there  I have 
not  hesitated  to  be  a reaper  and  gleaner,  that  what  was  thus 
procured  might  contribute  to  the  edification  of  my  hearers. 
I have,  moreover,  aimed  to  bear  constantly  in  mind,  that 
all  discoveries  of  truth  are  valuable  mainly  as  they  are 
applicable,  and  actually  applied,  to  promote  moral  and  re- 
ligious growth  in  the  soul. 

Here  I would  say,  that  increased  observation  has  tended 
to  confirm  me  in  the  impression  of  the  absolute  boundless- 
ness of  the  sources  whence  the  Christian  preacher  may 
draw  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating,  impressing,  and  giving 
practical  effect  to,  religious  truth.  Time  would  fail  me 
now  for  merely  enumerating  them,  as  it  would  for  pre- 
sentation of  the  different  lights  in  which  it  has,  according 
to  my  ability,  been  brought  before  you.  Instead  of  at- 
tempting to  survey  the  wide  space  thus  indicated,  I will 
briefly  review  the  principal  topics  of  my  preaching ; on 
which  I have  chiefly  enlarged  and  insisted,  because  I believed 
them  consistent  with  the  letter,  expressive  of  tho  spirit, 
and  eminently  promotive  of  the  true  ends,  of  the  gospel. 
They  range  themselves  naturally  in  two  classes. 

First,  There  are  those  common  to  most,  if  not  all,  Chris- 
tians. Included  in  them  are  the  perfect  God ; an  all-suffi- 
cient Saviour ; the  immortal  soul  of  man  ; its  spiritual 
capacities  and  aspirations ; its  exposure  to  temptation, 
error,  and  sin;  the  Divine  Spirit  working  in  it;  Christ’s 
mission  and  agency  in  enlightening,  converting,  redeeming 
it,  and  bearing  it  on  to  a heavenly  destiny ; faith  of  the 
reason  and  with  the  heart ; repentance ; progressive  holi- 
ness ; looking  to  Scripture  for  inspired  guidance ; the  com- 
mandments and  ordinances,  and  walking  in  them  blameless  ; 

2 


10 


righteous  retribution ; all  the  duties  implied  in  holy  living, 
or  in  preparation  for  peaceful  death.  On  these  and  like 
themes  have  I mostly  dwelt,  and  delighted  to  dwell,  in  my 
public  ministrations.  They  involve  the  sum  and  substance 
of  our  religion  ; they  are  momentous  in  themselves  and 
their  consequences  ; they  are  inexhaustible  in  their  supplies 
of  wisdom,  solace,  strength,  joy.  Even  when  partially 
obscured  and  imperfectly  apprehended,  they  are  not  with- 
out a gracious  and  restoring  influence.  A virtue  goes  out 
from  them  to  the  humble  seeker,  with  vision  dimmed  and 
feeling  after  it,  as  there  did  to  the  believing  woman,  who 
only  touched  the  hem  of  the  Master’s  garment.  They  open 
a fountain,  into  which  the  very  spirit  of  healing  has 
descended,  where  every  moral  malady  may  be  removed. 
Tables  are  spread  by  them  in  the  wilderness  of  earth,  at 
which  they  who  hunger  for  righteousness  may  be  filled. 
By  them  are  we  joined  in  full  communion  with  all  that 
love  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity,  and  are  brought  into  large, 
loving,  blissful  fellowship  with  — 

“ The  holy  church  throughout  the  world.” 

Under  this  head,  let  me  specify  another  topic;  namely, 
philanthropic  enterprise.  Feeling,  with  many  of  you,  deep 
interest  in  this  marked  feature  of  our  age,  and  recognizing 
its  claim  to  the  attentive  consideration  of  every  religious 
society,  I have  not  overlooked  it  in  my  preaching.  Could 
the  great  causes  of  peace,  temperance,  freedom ; the  thou- 
sand charities  that  are  abroad ; and,  above  all,  the  diffusion 
throughout  the  world  of  the  religion  from  which  so  largely 
they  spring  and  are  fed,  — could  these  fail  to  be  advocated 
by  any  really  Christian  pulpit  ? You,  if  I mistake  not, 
will  testify,  that,  in  advocating  them,  I have  avoided  trench- 


11 


ing  on  others’  rights ; that,  while  I have  exercised  my  own, 
— among  them,  that  of  free  suffrage,  — I have  not  availed 
myself  of  the  pulpit  as  a vantage-ground  from  which  to 
descend  amid  the  dust  of  political  and  worldly  contests,  or 
to  invade  unjustifiably  another’s  province.  Still,  I have 
rejoiced  to  bear  a part,  humble  though  it  might  be,  as  a 
preacher  as  well  as  a man,  in  the  great  conflict  going  on 
with  social  evil ; from  this  elevated  stand-point  — beholding 
the  wrongs  by  which  society,  and  at  least  persons,  classes, 
races  in  it,  are  darkened  and  oppressed  — to  proclaim,  in  its 
remedial  and  beneficent  efficacy,  the  golden  rule  of  right 
and  love ; firmly  and  openly  to  avow  my  own,  and  be  the 
official  exponent  of  your,  active  and  warm  interest  in  fur- 
thering those  vast  objects  of  reform  and  benevolence,  to- 
ward which  the  mighty  philanthropic  heart  of  Christendom 
is  yearning  with  a depth  and  fulness  and  power  that  will 
become  more  full  and  deep  and  powerful,  till  they  shall  be 
secured.  And  I have  felt,  that  so  I was  discharging  a high 
duty  of  my  office,  and  helping  to  bring  us  into  sympathy 
with  the  body  of  genuine  believers,  — into  harmony  with 
the  essential  unity  of  spirit  in  the  Christian  church. 

That  church,  nevertheless,  has  its  divisions  and  sub- 
divisions. Hence  arises  the  other  class  I referred  to, 
of  subjects  for  pulpit  discussion.  This  class  includes 
points  of  sectarian  belief  and  action.  They  result  natu- 
rally from  differences  in  mental  constitution,  in  circum- 
stances and  influences  operating  in  earlier  or  later  years,  in 
the  modes  of  investigation  pursued,  in  the  varying  methods 
and  aspects  in  which  scriptural  truth  comes  to  the  mind ; 
not  to  mention  other  sources  whence  they  rise.  Happy  we, 
who  accept  them  on  the  cheerful  and  broad  ground  of  their 
not  being  bars  to  Christian  communion,  or  fatal  to  the  soul’s 


12 


peace  and  safety.  Yet  many  of  them  are  important  in  them- 
selves and  their  bearings,  and  are  not  to  be  ignored  by  any 
enlightened  pulpit.  As  such  I regard  those  by  which,  as 
Unitarians,  we  are  distinguished.  Among  them  are  the 
strict  unity  of  God ; the  identity  of  the  Spirit  of  God  with 
his  person  and  influence  ; Christ’s  inferiority  to  his  and  our 
Father,  and  his  absolute  dependence  on  him ; human  nature 
created  pure,  and  depraved  by  conscious,  actual  sin  alone ; 
regeneration  needed  by  men  in  precise  proportion  to  their 
having  thus  sinned,  and  to  be  obtained  just  as  they  endea- 
vor to  attain  it;  divine  aid  — not  fitful  like  the  wind,  nor 
more  mysterious  than  that — ever  ready  and  sure  to  . attend 
with  favoring  breezes  the  spread  sail  and  onward  course  in 
the  work  of  spiritual  reform  and  progress ; a future  state 
of  rewards  and  punishments,  corresponding  exactly  to  the 
virtues  and  vices  of  this  ; moral  discipline  and  opportunity 
for  restoration  not  being  banished  thence,  and  no  soul 
whom  the  all-loving  Parent  created,  and  whose  destiny  he 
foresaw,  being  doomed  to  hopeless  and  remediless  misery. 
Mere  faith,  too,  — faith  even  in  the  mercy  of  God,  or  any 
thing  the  Saviour  has  done  or  suffered;  all  substitutes, 
real  or  fancied,  for  personal  righteousness ; all  sacrifices, 
except  that  of  a contrite  and  devout  heart,  of  living  con- 
formity to  truth  and  right,  — are,  under  the  administration 
of  the  universal  Father,  ineffectual  toward  securing  his  ap- 
proval, and  the  greatest  good  which  man  may  acquire. 

These  sentiments  I early  imbibed,  and  may  indeed  be  said 
to  have  inherited  ; my  own  father,  and  his  before  him, 
having  in  substance  held  and  preached  them.  On  that  as 
well  as  other  accounts,  I was  led  to  exercise  stricter  caution, 
in  fact  jealousy  of  association  and  prejudice,  in  investigating 
their  grounds  and  tendencies.  The  more  I have  inquired, 


13 


observed,  experienced  of  them,  the  more  have  I been  con- 
vinced of  their  soundness  and  value.  I have,  and  have  long 
had,  an  unwavering  conviction,  that  they  accord  with  the 
tenor  of  Scripture,  and  will  bear  the  test  of  its  most  search- 
ing criticism ; that  they  are  of  the  essence  of  the  primitive 
Christian  belief.  I hold  them  to  be  chief  elements  in  the 
stream.  *)f  pure  religion  flowing  down  from  the  apostolic  age, 
which  — as  the  fabled  river  of  Greece,  that,  losing  itself  in 
the  earth,  flowed  on  through  the  sea,  and  mingled  its  waters 
with  those  of  a distant  land  — has,  often  and  for  long 
periods,  been  overlaid  by  false  and  vain  philosophies,  dark 
and  chilling  dogmas,  waves  of  superstition  and  fanaticism, 
but  has  emerged  at  length,  without  having  parted  with  any 
of  its  original  properties,  in  its  purifying  and  life-giving  effi- 
cacy ; its  advancing  current  having,  on  either  side,  banks 
smiling  with  moral  verdure*  bloom,  and  fertility ; vines 
wide-spread,  and  laden  with  rich  clusters  of  knowledge  and 
virtue ; stately  trees  of  spiritual  life,  whose  branches  reach 
far,  and  bend  with  immortal  fruit. 

In  plain  terms,  I believe  that  the  distinctive  faith  we 
embrace  has,  from  the  first,  been  working,  and  working 
mightily,  to  further  the  advance  of  civilization  and  Chris- 
tianity ; to  extend  the  dominion,  and  secure  the  ultimate 
triumph,  of  truth,  charity,  and  righteousness  in  the  world ; 
to  modify  and  rationalize,  so  to  speak,  — that  is,  render 
consistent  with  reason  as  well  as  Scripture,  — the  opinions, 
and  elevate,  refine,  and  liberalize  the  practice,  of  other  sects 
besides  our  own  ; to  rebuke  and  check  bigots  and  fanatics  ; 
to  resist  and  eradicate  the  vices  and  crimes  by  which  souls 
are  degraded  and  ruined,  by  which  the  face  of  society  is 
marred,  and  the  root  of  bitterness  planted  and  made  to 
flourish  in  its  otherwise  pleasant  garden.  I believe  also,  as 


14 


I have  confidence  in  human  progress,  that  our  peculiar  faith 
is  destined  to  be  a main  instrument  of  that  progress.  Not 
the  half  of  its  power  has  been  told,  far  less  put  forth. 
Some  of  the  finest  spirits  among  men  have  been  nurtured 
under  it,  and  many  more  shall  be  touched  by  it  to  yet  finer 
issues.  Rightly  understood  and  applied,  it  is  adequate  to 
regenerate  the  world ; to  rid  the  Church  of  the  corruptions 
that  through  ages  of  darkness  have  settled  upon  her,  stained 
her  beautiful  garments,  and  eaten  into  their  very  texture, 
and  to  bring  her  back  to  primeval  simplicity  and  purity ; to 
convert  and  revive  the  soul,  wherever  and  whenever  needing 
to  be  converted  or  revived ; to  quicken  and  invigorate  it  for 
all  Heaven-appointed  labor  and  conflict,  and  conduct  it  to  a 
height  of  knowledge,  a depth  of  peace,  a variety,  beauty, 
glory,  of  virtue,  hardly  yet  conceived  by  the  mind  of  man. 

With  such  convictions  of  the  nature  and  tendency  of  our 
faith,  I have  delighted  all  along,  in  private  and  in  public, 
to  cherish  and  maintain  it.  On  my  coming  here,  this  was 
distinctly  announced  as  a specific  object  of  exertion.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  first  organization  established  in  the  parish, 
after  my  settlement,  was  a society  auxiliary  to  that  excellent 
institution,  the  American  Unitarian  Association,  to  which 
liberal  contributions  have  annually  been  made,  and  from 
which  has  been  received  much  more  than  an  equivalent  in 
the  diffusion  of  correct  religious  sentiments.  That  Asso- 
ciation I would,  in  passing,  commend  to  your  continued 
interest  and  aid.  By  preaching,  especially,  have  I aimed  to 
explain  and  inculcate  our  denominational  doctrines.  Im- 
pressed fully  with  their  truth,  their  worth,  their  being  the 
brightest  manifestation  yet  made  to  man  of  the  wisdom  and 
saving  power  of  God,  I have  proclaimed  them  from  this 
desk  in  no  faltering  tone,  no  ambiguous  phrase,  no  mystical 


15 


garb;  with  no  threading  of  dubious  mazes  of  speculation, 
in  which  they  or  their  spirit  might  be  lost ; with  nought  to 
extenuate,  unless  it  be  our  want  of  fidelity  to  the  precious 
faith  we  are  privileged  to  hold,  and  cannot  hold  too  dear  ; 
with  no  leaning  or  turning  or  shifting  to  the  right  hand  or 
the  left,  to  one  side  or  another,  or  many  sides ; no  attempt 
at  compromise  in  things  not  admitting  of  it ; at  reconciling 
differences  in  their  nature  irreconcilable ; in  fine,  wdtli 
plainness  and  directness  belonging  to  and  altogether  be- 
coming our  peculiar  principles,  when  set  forth  by  themselves, 
or  placed  in  contrast,  as  might  be  required,  with  those  from 
which  they  differ.  When,  however,  1 have  deemed  it 
needful  to  comment  on  these  last,  and  point,  by  way  of 
caution,  to  their  nature  and  effects,  it  has  been  sought  to  be 
done  with  mingled  frankness,  candor,  and  charity  ; with 
the  conviction  entire  that  no  diversity  of  opinions  can  fa- 
tally affect  salvation  ; that  to  fear  God  and  work  righteous- 
ness are  the  sole  conditions  of  acceptance  with  him ; that 
the  well  of  water  Jesus  has  opened,  springing  up  to  ever- 
lasting life,  is  neither  Samaritan  nor  Jewish,  nor  exclusive 
of  any  sincerely  thirsting  who  will  draw  and  drink  of  it. 

It  has  been  my  endeavor  to  fulfil  the  preacher’s  duty  in  a 
spirit,  at  once  catholic  and  eclectic,  of  liberality  and  good- 
will, and  receptive  of  good  whencesoever  offered.  I have 
welcomed,  and  doubted  not  my  hearers  would  welcome,  any 
truth,  from  whatever  source  obtained,  that  tended  to  pro- 
mote enlightened  and  practical  religion.  No  pulpit,  I 
conceive,  has  been  more  substantially  free  than  this,  for  the 
period  we  are  reviewing.  It  has  never  been  closed  against 
the  utterance  of  what  was  honestly  and  deliberately  believed 
to  be  truth.  A prevailing  rule,  notwithstanding,  has  been, 
that  the  truth  should  be  here  spoken  in  love.  The  last 

t 


16 


thing,  or  one  of  the  last,  to  be  tolerated  among  us,  is  violent 
denunciation  of  others  differing  in  sentiment  from  ourselves. 
Ministrations  from  widely  different  quarters,  and  varying 
materially  from  our  theological  standard,  have,  you  will 
remember,  often  been  cordially  received  by  us.  It  is  but 
just  to  you  and  me,  on  this  occasion,  to  say,  that  if  there  be 
not  the  fellowship,  including  ministerial  exchanges,  to  be  de- 
sired between  ourselves  and  other  denominations  around  us, 
it  is  not  for  want  of  a willingness  to  that  effect  on  our  part, 
distinctly  expressed  and  well  understood.  With  the  views, 
which  I know  you  equally  with  me  delight  to  cherish,  of 
enlarged  Christian  intercourse,  I could  not  for  a moment 
consent  that  any  part  of  the  odium  which  properly  attaches 
itself  to  the  division-walls  by  which  Christians  are  separated 
and  set  in  hostile  array,  or  any  portion  of  responsibility  for 
the  tremendous  evils  thence  resulting,  should  rest  here. 
Let  us  hope,  and  let  us  do  what  we  can  to  realize  the  ex- 
pectation, that  this  occasion  of  offence,  this  weapon  by 
which  Religion  is  wounded  in  the  house  of  her  friends,  — 
even  their  unnatural  and  unhallowed  estrangement,  — shall 
one  day,  and  ere  long,  be  for  ever  removed  ; when  there 
shall  no  more  be  repulsion,  but  attraction,  between  the 
Christian  spheres,  — attraction  holy  and  irresistible,  because 
it  shall  be  seen  and  acknowledged,  as  of  the  primitive 
disciples,  “how  these  Christians  love  one  another.” 

Though  dwelling  thus  much  on  preaching,  I am  not  un- 
mindful of  the  not  less  important  service  of  worship.  Of 
this,  the  sacred  song  is  a part  of  no  little  consequence,  — 
more  than  is  generally  apprehended;  and  we  may  con- 
gratulate ourselves  that  here  it  has  been  conducted  so 
uniformly  with  a taste,  fervor,  and  solemnity  fitted  to  make 
melody  in  the  heart  to  the  Lord.  But  prayer,  — the  joint, 
* 


17 


highest  offering  of  the  worshippers,  the  ascent  of  the  mind 
to  God,  communion  in  spirit  with  the  Father  of  spirits,  — 
prayer,  undoubtedly,  is  foremost  in  the  services  of  the  sanc- 
tuary. Words  fail  to  express  my  sense  of  the  solemn 
responsibility  he  is  under  who  is  commissioned  to  lead  in  it. 
Even  when  conducted  after  established  forms,  it  must,  to  be 
justly  effective,  be  bathed  in  his  spirit,  and  receive  new  life 
from  his  engagedness  and  piety.  When  — as  seems  to  me 
better,  more  impressive,  more  availing  — he  unites  studious 
preparation  to  spontaneity  in  its  performance,  he  must  draw 
from  the  deep  springs  of  his  own  best  thoughts  and  emo- 
tions ; must  call  on  his  soul  and  all  within  it,  that  he  may 
pray,  and  bring  others  to  pray,  aright,  — sincerely,  fer- 
vently, with  due  regard  to  events  and  circumstances, 
necessities  and  sins,  to  every  relation  and  duty.  Bowing, 
a creature  of  earth,  before  the  Majesty  of  heaven  and  earth, 
and  feeling  that,  therefore,  his  words  should  be  few,  — rather 
that  he  would  be  dumb,  his  lips  sealed  in  silence,  — he  is  yet 
expected  to  give  utterance  to  the  feelings  and  wants  of  his 
fellow-worshippers.  Deeply  conscious  of  imperfection  and 
error ; abashed,  covered  with  confusion,  and  blushing  with 
shame  ; ready  to  hide  his  face  in  the  dust  at  the  felt  presence 
of  the  all-pure  One,  — he  yet  must  stand  forth  to  make  con- 
fession for  the  sins  of  the  people,  and  supplicate  for  others 
the  forgiveness  he  deems  almost  too  much  • to  ask  for  him- 
self. Profoundly  sensible  of  his  own  weakness,  and  need  of 
strength  from  above ; bending,  it  may  be,  with  the  weight 
of  trial  and  infirmity, — he  is  expected  to  cheer  the  droop- 
ing spirits,  to  lift  up  the  hands,  strengthen  the  hearts,  and 
address  to  the  only  sufficient  Helper  the  desires,  of  the 
congregation.  Dim  though  his  own  taper  may  be,  it  must 
suffice  to  light  and  keep  alive  a flame  of  devotion  in  many 

3 


18 


souls.  With  these  views  and  feelings  have  I led  in  your  devo- 
tions. Pure  joy  would  there  he  to  me  in  believing,  that, 
by  any  effort  of  mine,  they  had  been  kindled,  raised,  and 
sanctified ; too  great  the  happiness  of  at  last  finding  it 
associated  with  the  higher  services  of  them  who  have  gone 
from  us  to  join  in  the  worship  of  the  heavenly  temple,  and 
now  tune  to  that  their  golden  harps. 

All  the  ministrations  of  this  house  I have  aimed  so  to 
perform  as  to  have  them  answer  to  the  true  nature  and  ends 
of  public  worship.  What  is  its  nature  ? What  are  its 
ends  ? It  is  a means  of  bringing  man  near  to  his  Maker 
and  near  to  his  fellow-man  ; of  causing  heart  to  meet  heart, 
while  the  soul  meets  her  God.  It  draws  men,  by  the  cords 
of  love,  and  joint,  faithful  service,  to  their  common  Father. 
It  is  a cement,  by  which  to  unite  all,  of  whatever  age, 
capacity,  or  condition,  in  an  indestructible  union.  By 
bringing  them  before  the  universal  Former  and  Disposer, 
it  makes  all  earthly  distinctions  vanish,  and  the  essential 
equality  of  souls  to  be  manifest.  While  it  requires  and 
nourishes  self-respect,  it  requires  also  and  nurtures  mutual 
respect  between  brethren  and  men.  They  whom  it  assem- 
bles, that  together  they  may  meditate,  inquire,  listen  to  the 
word  read  and  preached,  sing  and  pray,  will  be  likely  to  be 
inclined  thereby  to  regard  the  more  both  themselves  and 
one  another.  A firm  foundation  is  thus  laid  for  stability, 
order,  and  prosperity,  alike  in  individuals  and  in  society. 
It  affords  also  a blessed  refuge  from  the  storms  of  life, 
sweet  solace  to  the  sorrowing  and  tried,  and,  by  the  horns  of 
the  altar,  a stronghold  and  a way  of  escape  to  the  tempted 
and  sinful.  It  has  solemn  relation  to  the  life  that  now  is  ; 
its  observance  or  neglect  often  corresponding  to  rise  or  fall 
in  worldly  condition.  Unspeakably  more  does  it  concern 


19 


the  life  to  come  ; making  the  house  of  God  the  gate  of 
heaven.  No  wonder,  then,  that  many  of  the  wisest  and  best 
should  deem  it  their  high  duty  and  privilege  to  sustain 
public  worship  by  their  personal  presence  and  liberal  aid. 
Especially  may  the  minister  of  religion  be  expected  to  direct 
to  this  object  a large  portion  of  his  energies.  To  invest  it 
with  most  attractiveness ; to  produce  just  appreciation  of  its 
nature  and  purposes ; to  assist  in  promoting  its  true  ends, 
that  have  just  been  indicated,  and  are  expressed  by  the  single 
phrase,  pure  and  practical  Christianity,  — all  this  it  has 
been  my  endeavor  to  keep  steadily  in  sight,  and,  as  far  as 
might  be,  effect  by  the  solemnities  of  social  worship.  This, 
with  the  increasing  demand  for  knowledge,  and  for  variety 
and  novelty  in  its  presentation,  has  been,  and  must  still 
more  be,  no  slight  task.  If,  in  the  course  of  my  ministry, 
the  charm  of  novelty  may  have  been  wanting ; if  things  old 
as  well  as  new  have  been  produced,  — I would  have  you  con- 
sider the  occasion  for  repeating  old  truths,  line  upon  line, 
precept  on  precept,  that  exists  in  the  intellectual  and  moral 
condition  of  the  world  and  of  every  congregation.  And  I 
would  further  plead,  that  while  no  mind,  however  prolific 
it  may  be,  can  furnish  invariably  for  the  pulpit  new  views 
of  truth  and  duty,  it  has  been  my  desire  and  effort  always 
to  present  some  new  light,  though  it  might  be  in  following 
out  a familiar  and  beaten  track.  Love  of  the  sanctuary ; 
devotional  feeling,  to  which  it  is  intimately  allied,  illumined 
and  warmed  by  ever-brightening  rays  from  the  Supreme 
Intelligence,  and  joined  to  a fixed  purpose  to  open  the 
whole  soul  to  their  reception  and  influence,  — it  has  been  my 
main  object  to  excite  and  cherish.  As  an  habitual  attend- 
ance on  religious  services  contributes  largely  to  insure  their 
good  effects,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  mention,  that 


20 


public  worship  has  not,  during  my  ministry,  been  intermitted 
in  this  parish  for  a single  sabbath.  Our  altar-fires  have  not 
gone  out  or  slumbered ; or,  if  they  have,  it  has  been  only 
that  they  might  be  renewed  with  each  returning  Sunday. 

The  ordinances,  so  simple,  so  fitting  as  seals  of  Christian 
discipleship  and  communion,  and,  furthermore,  as  means  of 
holiness,  it  has  been  a strenuous  aim  with  me,  not  officially 
alone,  but  from  strong  inclination  and  conviction,  to  ex- 
plain, and  urge  on  your  observance ; and  I rejoice  that  the 
appeals  of  the  gospel  respecting  these  have  been  here  com- 
plied with  by  so  considerable  a number,  for  themselves  and 
those  committed  in  Providence  to  their  charge.  The  fifty 
among  us  who  have,  the  present  season,  become  stated 
communicants  at  the  Lord’s  table,  and  the  seventy  who 
have  been  baptized  into  the  Holy  Spirit,  show  conclusively, 
that  with  us,  at  least,  the  ordinances  are  not  dying  out.  Yet 
how  many  even  here  have  not  accepted  these  proffered  means 
of  grace  ! — proffered  freely  as  the  gospel  itself.  How  many 
neglect  to  offer  the  children  God  has  given  them,  at  the  bap- 
tismal font  which,  through  his  dear  Son,  the  Saviour  of  all, 
who  took  little  children  in  his  arms  and  blessed  them,  he 
has  instituted ! How  many  turn  from  the  memorial  of 
Jesus  ; are  deaf  to  the  touching  tones  of  the  parting  request 
or  precept,  or  rather  both  in  one,  that  comes  to  them  from 
the  sublime  and  beautiful  rite  before  us,  — “ This  do  in  re- 
membrance of  me  ” ! How  many  have  gone  to  their  graves 
lamenting,  when  too  late,  that  they  had  not  listened  to  this, 
their  Saviour’s  voice  ! How  many,  it  is  to  be  apprehended, 
are  on  their  way  thither,  to  have  their  last  moments  dis- 
turbed by  the  same  painful,  unavailing  regrets  ! Is  it  not 
time  (I  submit  to  you,  my  friends)  for  the  mass  of  our  reli- 
gious societies  to  rouse  from  this  lethargy,  — to  tear  away 


21 


the  veil  of  mystery  and  indecision  which  has  so  long  hung 
like  the  pall  of  death  on  this  interesting  and  sacred  subject  ? 
It  certainly  is  full  time  that  the  mystical  associations  which 
have  enveloped  it  for  ages  should  be  swept  away,  as  earth- 
born  fogs,  as  unnatural  and  pernicious  delusions,  from 
every  mind  and  conscience  around  which  they  still  hover. 
The  ordinances  of  Baptism  and  the  Supper,  the  two  and  only 
Christian  ordinances,  are  simply  instrumental  means  to  be 
used  by  all  who  have  the  desire  and  discretion  to  employ 
them  for  their  own  or  others’  benefit ; and  this  congrega- 
tion, and  every  one  claiming  to  be  Christian,  in  which  they 
are  not  so  used  by  all  who  can  realize  the  solemn  duty  of 
observing  them,  are  far  below  the  standard  of  our  religion,  — - 
are  palpably  deficient  in  one  of  its  chief  requirements. 

Were  they  thus  observed  and  employed,  the  Church 
would  take  her  rightful  position,  — would  stand  where  she 
stood  in  the  early  ages,  when  all  believers,  with  their  chil- 
dren, were,  through  the  ordinances,  taken  to  the  bosom  of 
her  visible  family,  and  before  custom  and  fashion  had  ga- 
thered around  her  a vast  company,  who,  though  coming  to 
her  worship,  refrain  from  the  observance  of  her  distinguish- 
ing rites.  She  would  then  be  indeed  a living  church.  The 
congregation  would  thus  be  virtually  resolved  into  the 
church  ; which  to  my  mind  is  far  wiser  and  better  than  — 
what  has  with  no  little  ability  been  advocated  — merging 
the  latter  in  the  former.  “ Ah ! ” many  will  exclaim,  “ then 
we  must  subscribe  a creed  ; must  enter  into  a covenant ; 
must  make  a profession,  and  profess  more  than  we  are  pre- 
pared to ; must,  besides,  submit  to  the  abridgment  of  Chris- 
tian liberty.”  To  such  we  may  reply  by  asking,  What  creed 
is  requsite,  beyond  belief  in  Jesus  as  the  Christ  ? which  is  all 
the  New  Testament  demands,  and  to  which  every  Christian 


22 


might  yield  a ready  assent.  Why  not  covenant  for  the  pro- 
motion of  religious  purposes,  when  you  associate  for  so  many 
other  less  important  ones  ? Can  profession,  or  confession,  — 
as  we  may  perhaps  better  say,  though  both  are  scriptural 
terms,  — which  is  joined  to  belief  of  the  heart  in  the  means 
of  salvation,  and  which  we  make  without  the  trials  under- 
gone by  confessors  and  martyrs  in  other  regions  and  times, 
— can  it  be  otherwise  than  productive  of  strength  in  ourselves 
and  others  for  a true  consecration  to  the  Christian  life  ? 
Do  the  bonds,  by  which  the  members  of  a church  are 
united,  imply  necessarily  any  infringement  of  personal  rights 
or  freedom  ? or  do  they  tend,  or  can  they  be  perverted,  to 
any  which  may  not  be  prevented,  certainly  be  remedied,  by 
the  ultimate  and  inalienable  right  of  resignation  ? These 
questions,  it  seems  to  me,  are  answered  in  the  asking.  So 
far  as  the  views  they  suggest  have  been  followed  out,  they 
have  never,  to  my  knowledge,  occasioned  complaints  of 
oppression,  or  regret  for  having  practically  complied  with 
them.  On  the  contrary,  compliance  with  them,  I have  uni- 
formly found,  has  been  felt  by  the  practisers  of  it  to  be  a high 
privilege  and  rich  blessing.  Fully  convinced  of  their  cor- 
rectness and  blessed  tendencies,  it  has  been  my  earnest 
endeavor  to  procure  their  practical  adoption  among  us,  to 
the  extent  of  the  nearest  possible  approximation  to  iden- 
tity of  church  and  congregation ; and  I hope,  my  friends, 
that  you  will  not  rest,  till  this  object,  in  itself  so  desirable 
and  important,  — which  the  simple  views  we  hold  so  favor, 
and,  if  fairly  carried  out,  are  sure  to  effect,  — shall  be  com- 
pletely secured. 

Another  institution,  worthy  to  be  named  in  immediate 
connection  with  the  church,  which  some  are  ready  — and 
not  without  reason  — to  regard  as  second  only  to  that,  in 


23 


the  useful  agencies  of  the  world,  is  the  Sunday  school. 
Whatever  the  forms  in  which  it  has  existed,  since  its  esta- 
blishment by  Robert  Raikes,  of  England,  in  the  last  century, 
it  has  been  founded  in  and  sustained  by  the  very  spirit  of 
Him  among  whose  last  injunctions  was,  “ Feed  my  lambs.” 
Here,  on  this  spot,  was  established  the  first  regular  parish 
Sunday  school  in  New  England,  and  perhaps  throughout 
Christendom.  First  gathered  from  among  the  forsaken 
and  destitute,  and  the  debased  and  vicious,  by  two  noble 
women  of  our  society,  in  1810,  it  soon  was  warmly  adopted 
by  other  members,  with  the  pastor,  and  became  in  its 
essential  organization  what  it  has  ever  since  remained. 
During  that  time,  there  has  arisen  a very  large  body  of 
teachers  and  pupils,  who  have  received  great  mutual  bene- 
fit, and  also  been  fitted  to  strengthen  and  adorn  the  church 
and  the  community.  In  both  portions  of  this  body  have 
been  those,  not  a few,  of  high  intellectual  and  moral  en- 
dowments, and  of  eminence  in  public  and  private  life.  A 
majority  of  our  present  number  have  shared  in  its  direct 
benefits.  Who  of  us  has  not  been  indirectly  benefited  by 
it  ? Particularly  has  it,  and  have  we,  been  favored  in  its 
superintendents. 

Previously  to  the  worthy  incumbent,  there  have  been  but 
three.  The  first  was  Robert  Rantoul  [of  whom,  now  that 
his  venerable  form  is  no  more  seen  among  us,  I may  speak 
in  print,  as  his  personal  presence  forbade  me  to  do  in  the  de- 
livery of  this  discourse] . He  had  the  sagacity  to  discern  in 
the  sabbath  school,  at  the  outset,  a prime  element  of  social 
and  moral  progress,  and,  for  many  years,  freely  gave  to  its 
supervision  his  best  powers ; and  never  after,  to  his  dying 
day,  ceased  to  regard  it  with  tender  and  watchful  interest. 
The  charge  was  relinquished  by  him  to  one  singularly 


24 


fitted  to  sustain  and  grace  it,  — William  Thorndike,  alike 
respected  and  dearly  beloved  among  us ; all  too  early  lost ; 
withdrawn  from  us  at  the  scarcely  meridian  age  of  forty, 
though  not  till  he  had  been  distinguished  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession, in  various  walks  of  business,  and  as  the  dignified 
and  admired  presiding  head  of  our  State  Legislature ; and 
not  till  he  had  planted  a name  and  memory,  that  now,  after 
the  lapse  of  more  than  a score  of  years,  are  fresh  as  with  the 
morning  dew,  and  fragrant  with  the  odor  of  sanctity.  He 
continued  in  the  discharge  of  this  important  and  sacred 
trust  until  declining  health  compelled  its  resignation.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Albert  Thorndike,  to  whom  with  him 
might  apply  the  exclamation,  Par  nobile  fratrum , — Two 
noble  brothers ; both  commanding  in  person,  of  elevated 
bearing,  courteous  and  benevolent  in  spirit,  intelligent, 
high-minded,  pure  in  principle,  aiming  — and  remarkably 
successful  in  their  aim  — to  divide  rightly  their  superior 
powers  between  worldly  and  spiritual  pursuits.  The  latter, 
we  feel  but  too  sensibly,  has  just  gone  to  take  his  place  by 
the  side  of  the  former  in  the  spirit-world.  Lovely  and  ho- 
nored in  their  lives,  they  are  no  longer  separated  by  death. 
That  mourning  drapery  with  which  our  orchestra  is  clad 
bespeaks  but  imperfectly  the  new  grief  for  him,  who,  by  his 
decease  at  the  mature  yet  vigorous  age  of  fifty-eight,  when 
so  much  more  of  usefulness  was  anticipated,  has  vacated  a 
place  which  from  his  youth  he  had  occupied  there,  and 
ceased  from  the  active  and  leading  part,  which  for  most  of 
that  time  he  took,  not  only  in  the  music  of  the  temple,  but 
in  tuning  the  voice,  and  training  the  mind  and  heart,  of 
the  young,  to  the  service  of  their  Creator. 

Such  are  the  men  that  have  condescended  — rather 
counted  it  no  condescension,  but  a high  privilege  and  holy 


25 


pleasure  — to  lay  aside  weighty  public  and  private  responsi- 
bilities, and  devote  themselves  to  Sunday-school  instruc- 
tion. While  they  were  here  thus  engaged,  the  names 
and  characters  of  Leverett  Saltonstall,  Stephen  C.  Phil- 
lips, and  others  of  eminent  worth,  were  associated  with 
similar  services  in  neighboring  parishes.  These  all  felt 
that  the  ground  they  thus  occupied  was  holy  ground, 
that  the  time  so  spent  was  hallowed  time,  and  that  the 
vigilance  and  energies  thus  exerted  were  consecrated  to 
one  of  the  noblest  works  in  which  they  could  be  employed. 
For  myself,  I feel  that  the  hours  I have  uniformly  passed  in 
the  school  have  been  among  the  most  delightful  and  im- 
proving in  my  own  experience,  and  the  most  satisfying  and 
fruitful  of  good  in  ministering  to  others. 

It  may  justly  be  expected  of  every  Christian  pastor  to 
watch  and  labor  especially  for  the  young.  No  part 
of  the  care  devolved  on  me  has  been  more  cheerfully 
and  assiduously  executed  than  this,  whether  it  was  to 
be  exercised  for  them  in  or  out  of  their  homes,  on  the 
sabbath  or  the  week  day,  in  the  private  or  public  schools ; 
which  last  — as  from  my  coming  here,  one  year  excepted,  I 
have  been  a member  of  the  General  Committee,  and,  most 
of  that  period,  its  chairman  — have  claimed  and  received 
a large  share  of  my  time  and  attention.  But,  for  whatever 
it  may  have  been  in  my  power  so  to  do  for  the  young,  I 
have  been  richly  rewarded  by  their  friendship  ; and  yet 
more  by  what  I have  witnessed  of  their  progress  in  know- 
ledge, virtue,  and  preparation  for  future  usefulness,  honor, 
and  happiness.  To  their  continued  attachment,  and  the 
fulfilment  of  their  early  promise,  and  the  rich  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  them  useful,  honored,  and  prosperous  in  the 


4 


26 


world,  do  I look  forward  for  much  of  the  support  and  solace 
of  advancing  age. 

In  the  discharge  of  the  duties  designated  peculiarly  as 
pastoral,  it  has  been  my  aim  and  pleasure  to  enter,  by  a 
sympathy  full,  free,  divested  of  mere  formality,  into  the 
condition  and  wants  of  all  to  whom  I stood  in  the  endear- 
ing and  sacred  relation  of  a pastor  to  his  people.  To 
impart  light  and  encouragement  to  the  inquiring,  doubting, 
or  despondent ; to  sympathize  with  the  sorrowing  or  re- 
joicing, comfort  the  afflicted,  provide  for  the  destitute,  sus- 
tain and  cheer  the  sick  and  dying ; to  bury  the  dead ; to  do 
that  which  actual  experience  only  can  tell  how  trying  it  is, 
. — leading  in  the  last  sad  offices  to  them  on  whom  we  re- 

posed as  true  and  dear  friends,  — this,  and  whatever  else 
is  included  in  the  sphere  of  pastoral  duty,  have  I desired 
to  perform  seasonably,  tenderly,  faithfully.  For  all  the 
co-operation  and  encouragement  I have  received  in  this 
delicate,  and  often  difficult,  part  of  ministerial  service,  I 
would  make  grateful  acknowledgment.  At  the  same  time, 
I would  suggest  that  pastoral  exertion  might,  here  and 
generally,  be  rendered  far  more  effective  than  it  is  by  a free 
communication  of  wants,  doubts,  difficulties ; by  letting  it 
be  known  when  and  where  aid  is  needed,  and  may  be  most 
effectually  applied. 

In  reviewing  the  last  eight  and  twenty  years,  I realize 
almost  with  wonder  the  degree  to  which  my  existence  has 
been  here  concentrated.  In  this  appointed  sphere  of  duty 
have  centred  mainly  my  thoughts,  feelings,  and  interests, 
during  that  long  period.  While  I have  wished  and  sought 
to  meet  all  just  claims  on  my  services  from  abroad,  which 
of  necessity  have  been  many  and  various,  I have  felt 
that  ministerial  faithfulness,  like  charity,  begins  at  home, 


27 


and  should  be  principally  exhibited  there.  Here,  accord- 
ingly, I have  chiefly  aimed  to  be  useful,  and  with  a steadi- 
ness of  effort,  which,  I confess,  has  at  times  seemed  too 
continuous.  Scarce  a day  in  this  large  space  of  time  has 
been  without  its  burden  of  care  and  sympathy,  such  as 
sometimes  to  weigh  heavily  on  the  spirits,  and  task  severely 
the  energies  of  both  mind  and  body.  If  ever  there  has 
appeared  a want  of  sensibility  in  my  public  or  private 
ministrations,  I cheerfully  leave  it,  after  due  allowance  is 
made  for  the  official  need  and  advantage  of  self-control,  to 
be  set  to  the  account  of  human  imperfection.  Of  this,  not 
I alone,  but  most  pastors  and  preachers,  could  assure  you, 
that  often  they  are  constrained  to  be  calm  when  it  would 
be  a relief,  indeed,  to  weep.  If  my  labors  have  not  been 
strenuous  and  abundant  as  some,  and  myself  not  least, 
might  wish,  I would  fain  trust  that  something  will  be 
pardoned  to  the  discretion  which  takes  warning  from  the 
many  deplorable  instances  — and  my  own  profession  has 
furnished  its  full  share  — of  those  who  have  attained  a 
premature  lustre  only  to  undergo  an  untimely  and  disas- 
trous eclipse  ; and  who,  by  overstrained  zeal  in  the  morning 
of  their  usefulness,  have  forfeited  their  meridian  vigor,  and 
unfitted  themselves  for  bearing  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day.  If  I have  not  literally  fulfilled  the  injunction  preached 
from  at  my  ordination,  — “Give  thyself  wholly  to  them,” 
— still  no  small  part  of  what  I was  or  had  have  been  here 
bestowed.  It  is,  however,  with  no  feigned  humility  I ac- 
knowledge, that  the  labors  of  my  ministry  are  far  from 
having  accomplished  what  I could  desire ; though  I grate- 
fully rejoice  in  whatever  result,  good  in  itself,  or  corre- 
sponding to  the  nature  and  design  of  the  Christian  ministry, 
may  have  attended  them.  But  such  as  they  may  have 


28 


been,  for  good  or  for  evil,  to  you  or  me  or  others,  their 
account  must  forthwith  close,  — be  summed  up  and  ren- 
dered in,  to  await  the  sentence  of  the  final  bar. 

Increased  experience,  here  let  me  say,  has  tended  to 
enlarge  and  confirm  my  sense  of  the  solemn  responsibility 
of  the  ministerial  office.  Not  that  I have  been  led  to 
view  that  office  as  alone  solemn  and  clothed  with  weighty 
responsibilities,  or  to  regard  it  in  any  contracted  light. 
Every  occupation  in  life  is  serious.  All  rightful  occupa- 
tions in  which  men  can  engage  are  worthy  and  important. 
One  of  the  greatest  dangers,  indeed,  to  which  the  Christian 
pastor’s  office  is  exposed,  is  that  of  being  considered  as 
standing  alone,  rather  than  as  intimately  associated  with 
all  employments  and  duties,  having  mutual  relations  with 
them  all,  and  helping  men  to  do  the  work  of  religion,  in- 
stead of  doing  it  for  them.  So  to  consider  it  must  always 
have  the  effect  to  diminish  materially  its  power  and  useful- 
ness. It  is,  notwithstanding,  a high  and  holy  and  blessed 
office.  This  I have  felt  the  more,  the  more  I have  con- 
templated the  subjects  to  which  it  relates ; the  inquiries 
it  includes  and  demands ; the  communion  with  God  and 
Christ,  with  the  human  soul  and  all  souls,  to  which  it  leads  ; 
the  elevation  of  character  and  pursuits ; the  devotion  to  the 
best  interests  of  man  and  society,  to  truth,  righteousness, 
and  heaven,  which  it  prompts  and  requires.  Also  and 
especially  has  it  risen  in  my  estimation,  the  more  I have 
entered  personally  and  practically  into  its  duties,  its  plea- 
sures, and  even  its  trials.  And  though  the  young  man,  on 
first  surveying  the  vast  field  of  its  aims  and  requisitions, 
may  naturally  be  appalled  by  its  vastness  ; and  the  elder 
laborer,  as  he  becomes*  better  acquainted  with  it,  and  sees 
it  continually,  enlarging  in  extent,  may  be  oppressed, 


29 


if  not  absolutely  disheartened,  by  his  responsibilities,  — 
it  is  nevertheless  a glorious  field  in  which  to  work  ; 
and  I thank  God  for  having  been  permitted  so  long, 
though  so  poorly,  to  labor  in  it.  To  have  well  cultivated 
that  field  ; to  have  won  in  it  the  humblest  title  to  the  ap- 
pellation, “Good  and  faithful  servant,”  — is,  in  truth,  a 
crown  of  righteousness.  No  greener  or  brighter  wreath 
should  I desire  to  wear  on  my  brow,  or  have  laid  on  my 
grave. 

Instances  of  such  fidelity  have  not  been  wanting  in  your 
ecclesiastical  history.  It  is  somewhat  more  than  two  cen- 
turies since  this  parish  was  virtually  established.  For 
rather  more  than  twenty  years  from  the  settlement  of  this 
town,  its  inhabitants  worshipped  at  the  First  Church  in 
Salem,  of  which  this  place  was  then  a part.  In  1649, 
owing  to  their  increase  in  numbers,  and  the  inconvenience 
of  worshipping  at  that  distance,  particularly  as  they  were 
obliged  to  cross  the  intervening  arm  of  the  sea  in  boats,  they 
petitioned  for  leave  to  form  a separate  society.  This  was 
at  first  refused ; but,  the  following  year,  the  request,  having 
been  renewed,  was  so  far  granted  as  “ to  authorize  the  bre- 
thren on  Bass-River  side  to  procure  the  service  of  an  able  and 
approved  teacher,  they  still  retaining  their  connection  with 
the  church  in  Salem.”  With  this  permission,  they  employed 
several  religious  teachers,  till  their  regular  organization  as  a 
church  in  September,  1667  ; when  John  Hale,  who  had  for 
three  years  previously  ministered  to  them,  was  ordained 
their  pastor.  He  so  continued  to  his  death  in  May,  1700 ; 
having  been  with  them  about  thirty-six  years,  and  nearly 
thirty-three  from  his  ordination.  He  was  acceptable  and 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  office,  and  distinguished  for 
his  independence  and  public  spirit.  These  last  traits  were 


30 


evinced  in  his  accompanying  as  chaplain,  in  opposition 
to  the  wishes  of  his  people,  an  expedition  against  Canada. 
They  were  more  strikingly  displayed  in  the  part  he  took  in 
that  horrid  tragedy,  — the  witchcraft  delusion  of  1692. 
Having  favored  the  prosecution,  and  assisted  in  the  exami- 
nation, of  some  of  the  accused,  he  was  suddenly  brought  to 
a pause  by  the  fact,  that  his  own  wife,  a person  of  singular 
excellence,  was  “ cried  out  against.”  Entirely  convinced 
of  her  innocence,  he  was  induced  thereby  (as  he  states) 
to  scan  more  strictly  the  principles  he  had  imbibed  on 
this  subject,  and  by  scanning  to  question,  and  by  ques- 
tioning at  length  to  reject,  many  of  them.  He  at  once  — 
and,  under  the  circumstances,  it  demanded  no  little  moral 
courage  to  do  it  — set  his  face  against  the  prevailing  current 
of  superstition.  Soon  afterward,  he  prepared  and  published 
a treatise  on  witchcraft,  which  the  revered  John  Higginson 
commends  as  a work  which  the  writer’s  “ pious  and  modest 
manner,”  and  his  “ singular  prudence  and  sagacity  in 
searching  into  the  narrows  of  things,”  would  render 
“ generally  acceptable  to  all  the  lovers  of  truth  and  peace.” 
A copy  of  it  is  preserved  with  our  church-records.  It 
had  undoubtedly  a valuable  influence  in  overcoming  a delu- 
sion which  was  one  of  the  darkest  clouds  that  ever  came 
over  New  England,  and  that  settled  with  deepest  gloom  on 
this  vicinity ; during  which,  it  has  been  truly  said,  none 
could  lie  down  on  their  pillow,  or  walk  forth  in  the  light  of 
day,  without  the  most  terrible  apprehension  of  being  ac- 
cused, brought  to  trial,  and,  without  reason,  imprisoned,  or 
dragged  away  to  a cruel  and  infamous  death ; and  which 
was  not  checked  till  many  had  thus  suffered,  and  not  a few 
had  confessed  themselves  guilty  to  save  their  lives. 

When  their  first  pastor  — who  in  such  varied  and  trying 


31 


scenes,  as  in  the  usual  sphere  of  his  duty,  had  served  them 
so  well  — was  called,  at  the  ripe  age  of  sixty-three,  from 
his  earthly  labors,  a grateful  people  followed  him  to  his  rest 
with  tears  and  fond  regrets,  with  the  inscription  on  their 
hearts  no  less  than  on  his  gravestone,  — “ A pious  and 
faithful  minister  of  the  gospel ; ” while  his  descendants,  in 
successive  generations,  arose  to  bear  up  his  honored  name, 
and  carry  forward  the  work  which  he  had  so  nobly  com- 
menced. 

In  October,  1701,  his  place  was  supplied  by  Thomas 
Blowers  ; who  is  described  by  a cotemporary  as  a “ very 
valuable  man,  good  scholar,  and  excellent  minister ; a dis- 
tinguished example  of  warm  devotion,  of  extensive  goodness, 
meekness,  and  sweetness  of  temper  ; of  great  stability  in  his 
principles,  and  steadiness  in  his  conduct ; a very  faithful 
friend  and  obliging  neighbor ; a most  tender  and  kind  hus- 
band and  father;  a vigilant,  prudent  pastor,  and  close, 
pathetic  preacher ; had  in  great  veneration  among  the  as- 
sociated pastors  in  the  vicinity ; highly  esteemed  by  all  his 
acquaintance,  and  universally  beloved  by  his  flock.”  His 
sudden  decease,  in  the  fifty-second  year  of  his  age  and 
twenty-eighth  of  his  ministry,  was  regarded  as  a severe  be- 
reavement by  them,  and  by  the  whole  community,  that 
appreciated  his  worth,  and  of  which  he  was  a pillar  and 
ornament.  Samson  Salter  Blowers,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Nova  Scotia,  was  his  grandson ; who  died 
in  1842,  having  attained  the  age  of  a hundred  years,  and 
been  a long  time  the  senior  survivor  among  the  graduates  of 
Harvard  College ; for  which  the  grandfather,  more  than  a 
century  before,  had  done  good  service,  and  shown  a filial  and 
enlarged  spirit,  by  publicly  meeting  the  objections  against 
the  election  of  Leverett  to  its  first  office,  particularly  that  of 


32 


liis  being  a layman,  and  by  contributing  his  aid  to  secure 
for  it  his  brilliant  presidency. 

Joseph  Champney,  the  third  pastor,  was  ordained  here  in 
December,  1T29,  — less  than  six  months  after  his  predeces- 
sor’s death.  His  ministry  is  the  longest,  by  far,  yet  sustained 
in  this  place  ; having  extended  into  its  forty-fourth  year,  in 
which  he  died,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  Without  con- 
spicuous ability,  he  was  esteemed  and  loved  for  his  sincerity, 
his  mild,  benevolent,  and  social  disposition,  and  his  devoted- 
ness to  the  good  of  his  parishioners  and  to  the  duties  of  his 
profession.  His  life  is  represented  by  those  who  knew  him 
to  have  been  that  of  a true  Christian,  and  its  close  was 
serene  and  happy.  Owing  to  his  impaired  health,  in  1TT2, 
the  assistance  of  a colleague  was  required ; and  Joseph  Wil- 
lard was  ordained  in  November  of  that  year.  Within  three 
months  after  his  settlement,  he,  by  the  death  of  his  senior 
associate,  became  sole  pastor ; and  so  remained  for  a little 
over  nine  years,  till  his  resignation  on  being  elected  Presi- 
dent of  Harvard  University.  In  that  high  station  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  — nearly  twenty-three  years ; a 
longer  term  than,  with  a single  exception,  was  had  by  any 
who  have  filled  it ; and  deceased  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of 
his  age.  Though  his  ministry  was  comparatively  brief,  it 
sufficed  to  leave  here  a deep  and  permanent  impression. 
Rational  and  liberal  in  his  theology ; plain,  earnest,  prac- 
tical ; aiming  at  spiritual  improvement,  rather  than  display 
of  critical  learning,  in  his  public  ministrations ; in  his  more 
private  ones  wise,  kind,  sympathizing ; respected  and  influ- 
ential in  the  community,  through  his  talents,  acquirements, 
and  weight  of  character,  — it  was  but  natural  that  he  should 
be  highly  prized  by  his  parish,  and  parted  from  with  keen 
regret.  “ It  is  with  the  greatest  reluctance,”  they  say  in 


33 


answer  to  his  request  for  dismissal,  “ that  we  think  of  con- 
senting to  our  pastor’s  leaving  us,  with  whom  we  have  lived 
happily  for  so  long  a season.  We,  though  with  pain,  give 
him  up  for  the  sake  of  the  public  ; and  ardently  wish,  that, 
when  invested  with  the  president’s  office,  he  may  be  a rich 
blessing  to  the  world.”  His  character,  in  the  wider  sphere 
to  which  he  was  transferred,  is  too  generally  and  well 
known  to  require  labored  eulogy.  Dignified,  firm,  resolute, 
judicious,  yet  condescending  and  gentle  ; exercising  a truly 
parental  authority ; enjoying  a reputation  for  ripe  scholar- 
ship in  classical,  and  also  in  mathematical  and  astrono- 
mical, learning ; and  directing  his  powers  and  acquisitions, 
with  great  singleness  of  purpose,  to  the  advancement  of  the 
institution  over  which  he  presided,  — he  at  once  maintained 
and  adorned  his  eminent  position.  It  has  been  justly  said 
of  him,  by  one  who  was  both  his  pupil  and  associate  in  gov- 
ernment and  instruction,  that  “ his  unbending  integrity,  his 
patience  and  fidelity  in  duty,  his  claims  to  professional  and 
literary  respect  and  confidence,  gave  him  a high  rank  among 
the  worthies,  guardians,  and  guides  of  his  generation.” 

After  an  interval  of  about  three  years,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Joseph  McKean,  who  was  settled  in  May,  1785.  He  was 
pastor  of  this  society  for  seventeen  years ; during  which  his 
reputation,  as  a sound  theologian  and  solid  scholar,  was 
fully  established.  Of  noble  and  commanding  person  ; with 
manners  and  character  marked  by  mingled  simplicity  and. 
dignity ; possessing  an  intellect  clear,  strong,  sagacious, 
and  discriminating ; frank,  amiable,  generous,  Christian,  in 
spirit ; as  a preacher,  felicitously  combining  instruction  and 
impressiveness ; impartial  and  assiduous  in  fulfilling  his 
parochial  relations,  — he  was  greatly  endeared  to  his  peo- 
ple, and  highly  regarded  at  large.  In  1802,  with  the  very 

5 


34 


reluctant  consent  of  those  with  whom  he  had  here  been 
so  happily  connected,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  become 
the  first  President  of  Bowdoin  College.  On  the  new  and 
important  field  thus  opened  to  him  he  entered  with  pro- 
found interest,  and  gave  to  it  his  full  energy.  But  after 
five  years  of  laborious  and  faithful  service,  in  the  midst  of 
his  days  and  usefulness,  when  the  seed  he  had  so  diligently 
sown  was  beginning  to  spring  up  and  bear  fruit,  he  was, 
in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  age,  summoned  from  earth ; to 
human  view,  prematurely  and  sadly  departing ; yet  not  till 
he  had  laid  an  adequate  foundation  for  the  distinction  and 
prosperity  which  the  institution,  commenced  under  his  fos- 
tering care,  has  since  attained. 

His  successor  in  the  pastorate  was  Abiel  Abbot,  who  is 
still  freshly  remembered  among  us.  Having  had  a previous 
settlement  of  eight  years  at  Haverhill,  he  came  here  in  1803, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life ; with  which  his 
ministry  terminated,  in  its  twenty-fifth  year,  and  the  fifty- 
eighth  of  his  age.  By  inclination  and  early  training,  he 
was  formed  for  the  church,  and  the  sacred  profession  by 
which  peculiarly  it  is  upheld  and  administered.  Inquiring 
diligently  into  the  truths  of  Christianity,  he  abandoned  the 
Trinity,  with  other  kindred  doctrines  he  had  originally 
adopted,  and  became  thoroughly  grounded  in  the  Unitarian 
faith.  But,  averse  to  controversy,  dreading  the  evils  often 
•accompanying  it,  and  impressed  with  the  superior  efficacy 
of  practical  religion,  he  dwelt  little  on  disputed  topics,  and 
seldom  discussed  them  in  the  pulpit.  Remarkable  for  ease, 
grace,  suavity  of  bearing  and  address ; for  ready  and  fluent 
utterance  ; for  solemnity,  unction,  pathos,  in  delivery ; quick, 
warm,  broad,  in  his  sympathies ; instructive  and  entertain- 
ing, genial  and  captivating,  in  the  social  circle ; with  no 


35 


common  resources  and  powers  for  informing,  moving,  sway- 
ing a promiscuous  assembly,  — he  was  eminently  fitted  for 
discharging  the  functions,  retired  or  public,  of  his  profes- 
sional calling.  Delighting  in  his  office,  he  magnified  it  by 
the  sincerest  devotion  to  its  duties.  His  published  writings 
manifest  literary  culture,  much  skill  in  composition,  accu- 
rate and  acute  observation  of  men  and  things.  He  had  tact 
to  seize,  and  the  vigor  as  well  as  the  disposition  to  follow 
up  and  improve,  opportunities  of  usefulness,  however  of- 
fered. Of  singular  aptitude  for  reaching  and  attracting  the 
young,  and  leading  them  to  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  and 
virtue,  he  left  on  multitudes  of  them  impressions,  in  their 
nature  invaluable,  and  lasting  as  the  minds  thus  influenced. 
Our  common  schools  were  re-organized  under  his  supervi- 
sion, and  received  an  impulse  and  direction  from  his  wise 
and  guiding  hand,  from  which  vast  benefits  will  not  soon 
cease  to  accrue.  All  the  means  of  intellectual  and  moral 
training  among  us  were  stimulated  by  his  zeal,  and  pervaded 
by  the  force  and  beauty  of  his  spirit.  Measures  for  social, 
moral,  and  religious  reform  and  elevation,  found  in  him  a 
ready  and  strong  ally ; and  the  numerous  benevolent  asso- 
ciations, which  in  his  time  were  springing  into  existence,  had 
his  cordial  welcome  and  aid.  The  withdrawal  of  one  thus 
gifted,  and  an  instrument  of  so  much  good,  could  not  fail 
to  produce  a profound  and  wide  sensation,  and  a most  sad 
and  painful  void.  Many  of  you  remember  the  gloom  which 
overspread  this  entire  region  when  the  mournful  announce- 
ment came,  that  on  his  return  from  a Southern  clime, 
whither  he  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  health,  he  had,  while 
approaching  the  shore,  and  a speedy  return  to  his  home  was 
fondly  anticipated,  been  arrested  by  death  ; and  that  you 
should  see  his  face,  hear  his  voice,  and  be  blessed  by  his 


36 


presence,  no  more.  Though  the  lamp  of  his  mortal  life  has 
long  since  gone  out,  yet  the  light  of  his  beneficent  ministry 
will  shine  on,  even  as  they  who  have  turned  many  to 
righteousness,  perpetual  as  the  stars. 

The  ministries  we  have  cursorily  reviewed,  taken  with 
that  now  closing,  average  considerably  more  than  a quarter 
of  a century  each  in  duration.  It  is  likewise  a noticeable 
fact,  — one  honorable  alike  to  them  and  those  they  served, 
— that,  excepting  the  two  whose  services  were  claimed  for 
the  heads  of  two  of  our  principal  literary  institutions,  and 
who,  as  we  have  seen,  parted  from  their  people  with  great 
mutual  regard  and  regrets,  all  the  former  pastors  of  this 
society  died  and  were  lamented  as  such ; death  alone 
dissolving  the  pastoral  tie  which  bound  them  in  uninter- 
rupted harmony  to  you,  or  to  them  who  have  preceded  you. 
A circumstance  yet  more  important  than  either  of  those 
just  stated  is,  that  while  they  were  all  highly  respectable 
for  ability,  and  possessed  an  amount  of  talent  and  ac- 
quirement which  procured  them  high  honor  and  influence 
among  cotemporaries  and  with  after-generations,  — and  in 
which,  as  belonging  to  its  succession  of  pastors,  any  parish 
might  take  a laudable  pride,  — no  stain  is  recorded,  or  is 
related  by  tradition,  to  have  rested  on  their  characters 
as  men,  as  Christians,  or  as  ministers  of  religion.  Truly 
and  most  significantly  may  we  in  this  view  say,  44  Sweet  is 
the  savor  of  their  names ; ” precious,  indeed,  the  legacy 
left  in  the  memory  of  their  purity  and  worth  to  those  who 
have  or  shall  come  after  them ; invaluable  the  moral  weight 
which  their  example  has  borne  and  must  ever  carry  with 
it,  inspiring  genuine  respect  for  religion,  and  winning  many 
to  virtue.  The  impressions  thus  produced  of  the  dignity, 
sacredness,  and  value  of  the  pastoral  office,  cannot  be 


37 


effaced,  or  lose  their  benign  efficacy,  in  this  parish  and  this 
community.  Let  me  add  an  expression  of  the  humble  hope, 
glowing  ardently  in  my  breast,  that  if  my  memory  may  not 
be  radiant  and  a fount  of  good  like  theirs,  and  be  not  your 
pride,  it  still  may  not  bring  reproach  on  that  sacred  office, 
and  not  be  for  your  and  your  descendants’  regret  and 
shame. 

Though  led,  by  the  train  we  have  pursued,  to  speak  more 
at  length  of  the  pastors,  I would  not,  by  any  means,  omit 
due  recognition  of  the  character  of  them  to  whom  they 
ministered.  That  has  been  marked  by  general  intelligence, 
benevolence,  integrity,  and  virtue  ; by  reverence  for  Religion 
and  her  institutions,  and  observance  of  them  to  at  least  the 
usual  extent.  An  uncommon  proportion  of  men  of  eminence 
has  been  included  in  this  society ; and  — what  we  may  re- 
mark as  a particular  advantage  and  blessing  — the  most 
influential  members  have  been  its  firm  supporters,  and  real 
friends  of  religion.  Two  of  these  stand  out  in  its  history 
with  special  prominence,  — one  having  been  most  extensive- 
ly engaged  in  its  concerns  during  a large  part  of  the  last 
century ; the  other,  for  nearly  all  which  has  elapsed  of  the 
present  one,  having  had  a leading  agency  in  its  affairs. 
The  former  was  Robert  Hale,  grandson  of  the  first  pastor : he 
was  born  in  1702,  and  died  in  1767.  He  was  endowed  with 
superior  natural  abilities,  liberally  educated,  and  bred  to 
the  medical  profession,  in  which  he  soon  had  extensive 
practice.  Intrusted  also  with  important  financial  interests ; 
a colonel  in  the  expedition  against  Louisburg,  and  dis- 
tinguished in  its  capture ; largely  occupied  in  public 
business  of  the  town,  county,  and  state ; commissioner 
on  repeated  and  pressing  emergencies  from  our  own  to 
other  Commonwealths,  — he  acquitted  himself  throughout 


38 


with  signal  fidelity  and  ability.  Extensive  and  engrossing 
as  were  his  other  occupations,  he  yet  found  time  to  attend, 
with  characteristic  thoroughness,  to  every  thing  concerning 
his  native  parish,  from  grave  questions  of  theology  and 
ecclesiastical  government,  down  to  — what,  to  be  sure,  in 
his  time,  was  a matter  of  no  slight  moment,  though  we 
might  attach  little  to  it  — the  framing  of  a precise  code  of 
rules  for  “ seating  the  meeting-house  ; ” by  which  there  was 
a range  of  many  degrees,  from  the  “ foremost  magistrate 
seat”  to  those  assigned  to  the  unmarried  and  to  persons 
greatly  in  debt  among  the  humblest.  — The  other  name, 
which,  from  its  connection  with  the  parish,  may  be  appro- 
priately coupled  with  his,  is  Robert  Rantoul.  To  him  I 
have  already  alluded,  for  the  part  he  took  in  the  Sunday 
school.  It  was  not  there  alone  that  he  manifested  lively 
and  active  interest  for  the  young,  but  in  all  the  institutions 
and  means  by  which  they  might  be  benefited.  That  inte- 
rest, early  begun  and  sustained,  personally  and  officially, 
through  many  years,  abated  not  with  advanced  age.  It 
was  touching  to  see  him,  his  head  white  with  the  snows  of 
more  than  seventy  winters,  moving  amid  youthful  assem- 
blies, whether  gathered  for  instruction  or  amusement,  and 
observe  his  sterner  aspect  relax  and  soften  as  he  entered  by 
cordial  sympathy  into  their  pursuits  and  pleasures.  For 
the  reformatory  and  philanthropic  enterprises  of  the  day, 
he  was  also  strongly  interested ; and  in  some  of  them, 
especially  that  of  promoting  temperance,  he  was  among 
the  pioneers,  and,  in  certain  respects,  took  the  initiative. 
He  was,  for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  a representative  or  a 
senator  in  the  General  Court,  where,  from  talent  and  ex- 
perience, he  had  an  influence  rarely  exerted  by  a single 
individual ; was  on  several  commissions  from  the  State  ; and 


39 


was  a member  of  the  convention  for  revising  its  Constitution 
in  1820,  and  again  in  that  of  1853  ; in  the  last  of  which  he 
was  recognized  as  its  Nestor,  and  called  to  preside  at  its 
organization.  The  services  which,  in  spheres  less  extensive 
and  nearer  home,  he  rendered,  were  very  numerous,  various, 
and  valuable.  Noted  as  he  was  for  the  punctilious  and 
persevering  discharge  of  all  his  duties,  there  is  no  respect  in 
which,  with  this  parish  and  church,  he  is  more  entitled  to 
high  consideration  and  grateful  remembrance,  than  the 
uniform  devotedness  with  which,  as  officer  and  member, 
for  more  than  half  a century,  he  took  a leading  part  in 
their  proceedings,  and  studied  their  interests.  His  honorable 
and  useful  life  was  prolonged  to  within  a month  of  the  com- 
pletion of  his  eightieth  year,  and  terminated  in  a peaceful 
departure. 

Among  the  patriarchs  of  the  society,  on  my  coming  to  it, 
were  Nathan  Dane  and  Joshua  Fisher.  As  I saw  those  two 
venerable  men  at  the  head  of  the  procession  leading  to  my 
ordination,  I could  not  but  view  the  circumstance  as  pre- 
senting a marked  feature  in  the  then  existing  condition  of 
the  parish,  and  an  auspicious  omen  for  the  future.  The 
former  was  a lawyer  by  profession  (one  which  has  been 
remarkably  represented,  by  numbers,  ability,  and  cha- 
racter, in  our  congregation)  ; the  father,  as  he  has  been 
called  by  high  authority,  of  American  law ; author  of 
the  immortal  ordinance  for  the  government  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  by  which  slavery  was  for  ever  excluded 
from  that  immense  and  now  populous  region ; withal,  of 
unimpeachable  integrity  and  purity.  His  mind  was  richly 
stored  with  theological  knowledge.  He  devoted  much  time 
— giving  his  sabbaths  exclusively  — to  its  acquisition;  was 
a constant  attendant  on  public  worship,  even  after  deafness 


40 


had  disabled  him  from  listening  to  it ; and  a liberal  con- 
tributor to  its  support.  The  latter  — a learned  and  skil- 
ful physician  ; President  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Socie- 
ty ; a proficient  in  natural  science ; a senator  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, and  deeply  interested  in  civil  affairs  ; an  able  and 
faithful  officer  in  institutions  of  business  and  charity ; in  all 
the  relations  of  life  upright,  high-minded,  and  worthy  — is 
to  be  esteemed,  in  the  distribution  of  his  wealth,  though 
far  more  in  his  life  and  example,  a great  public  benefactor 
to  this  his  adopted  parish  ; pecuniarily,  the  largest.  While 
his  bounty  flowed  freely  in  various  other  channels,  the 
ample  fund,  which,  with  the  aid  of  Israel  Thorndike,  — him- 
self a generous  friend  and  son  of  the  parish,  — he  established 
for  the  support  of  the  ministry  in  it,  will  cause  him  to  be 
ever  gratefully  remembered  among  us.  I may  add,  that 
from  the  three  last  named,  and  Moses  Brown,  — also  an  hon- 
ored parishioner,  — donations  and  legacies  to  the  amount  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars  have  gone  to  Harvard  University,  for 
which  strong  interest  has  always  here  existed  ; where  all  the 
ministers  of  this  society,  one  only  excepted,  were  graduated  ; 
and  over  which,  we  have  seen,  one  of  them  long  and  wor- 
thily presided. 

An  enlightened  liberality  in  sentiment,  feeling,  action,  is 
seen  sending  the  current  of  its  warm  and  healthy  life-blood 
through  our  whole  parochial  existence.  That  which  seeks 
out  and  promotes  good  objects,  whether  within  or  with- 
out its  immediate  circle,  and,  because  manifest  in  deeds, 
is  least  to  be  suspected,  has,  I trust,  been  in  good  degree  — 
if  not  to  the  extent  justly  desirable  — exercised.  The  diffu- 
sion of  intelligence  by  personal  effort,  by  books,  libraries, 
schools,  and  higher  seminaries,  or  by  any  other  methods 
deemed  expedient,  has  been  a favorite  object,  and  has  received, 


41 


from  those  qualified  to  further  it,  strong  countenance  and 
aid.  That  there  is  more  of  truth  to  break  forth  continually 
from  God’s  word  and  works ; that  the  firmament  of  know- 
ledge, common  and  sacred,  is  absolutely  boundless,  and 
should  be  constantly  explored ; which  was  uttered  in  sub- 
stance, and  partly  in  these  very  terms,  by  the  Pilgrim  Father, 
Robinson,  — has  been  steadily  maintained.  Perfect  freedom 
of  investigation  into  both  nature  and  revelation  is  a stand- 
ing declaration  of  our  creed ; or  would  be,  if  we  had  any 
other  one  than  that  of  the  Bible.  The  records  of  this 
church  show  that  the  terms  of  communion  have  never  been 
narrow  or  exclusive,  and  that  censures  have  never  been 
inflicted  for  supposed  error  of  opinion.  Its  independence 
has  been  firmly  upheld.  The  proposal  of  a convention  of 
ministers  at  Boston,  in  1705,  for  consociating  the  Con- 
gregational churches,  found  little  if  any  more  favor  here 
than  did  a similar  one  from  the  Massachusetts  General 
Association  in  1814,  which,  like  the  former,  encountered  an 
opposition  so  strenuous  as  to  lead  to  its  abandonment.  The 
Cambridge  Platform  of  ecclesiastical  government  was  not 
formally  adopted  by  this  church  till  nearly  seventy  years 
after  its  organization  ; and  then  only  with  essential  modifi- 
cations and  reservations,  among  which  was  this, — that  the 
Platform  should  be  received  in  “ their  own  sense,”  or  as 
the  members  chose  to  understand  and  apply  it.  These,  and 
many  other  facts  and  considerations  that  might  be  adduced, 
sufficiently  indicate  the  independent  tone  which  has  pre- 
vailed in  maintaining  the  rights  of  the  church  as  a body, 
and  of  the  individuals  composing  it. 

The  relations,  however,  of  this  society,  both  within  and 
without  itself,  have,  from  the  beginning  to  the  present  time, 
been  singularly  peaceful  and  harmonious.  Few  councils,  al- 

6 


42 


most  none  (none,  surely,  since  my  connection  with  it), have 
been  summoned  for  advice  or  arbitration  in  the  settlement 
of  disputes  and  difficulties.  No  differences  of  sentiment  or 
action  have  arisen,  that  have  resulted  in  permanent  con- 
troversy, alienation,  or  division,  and  that  have  not  been 
quickly  followed  by  reconciliation,  or  agreement  to  differ,  or, 
at  most,  quiet  withdrawal.  Unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond 
of  peace  has  been  the  motto  of  practice,  for  yourselves  and 
your  predecessors,  in  relation  to  those  within  your  borders 
and  to  other  religious  societies.  Between  the  mother  church 
— the  first  in  Salem  — and  this,  and  between  the  ministers 
and  people  of  both,  there  has  always  been  the  most  friendly 
union.  For  seventeen  years  after  they  had  separate  worship, 
they  met  — in  beautiful  token  of  Christian  fellowship  and 
love  — at  the  same  table  of  communion.  They  have  kept 
pace  together  in  what  we  consider  the  advance  of  religious 
ideas.  They  bear,  as  they  have  long  borne,  the  same  dis- 
tinctive appellation  among  the  denominations  of  Christians. 
May  their  only  strife  henceforth  be,  as  it  has  hitherto  been, 
striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  So  has  it 
been,  so  may  it  ever  be,  in  the  relation  of  this  to  the  first- 
born of  the  churches  that  have  sprung  from  it,  with  which 
we  have  always  been  in  peculiar  connection  and  sympathy ; 
and  she  to-day  has  affectingly  recognized  these,  by  suspend- 
ing her  usual  service,  and  joining  with  us  on  this  parting 
occasion.  For  her,  and  for  all  the  congregations  of  the 
town,  whether  of  like  or  differing  faith,  do  we  wish,  from 
the  fruitful  and  loving  parent  of  them  all,  at  this  hour,  and 
out  of  the  house  of  God,  prosperity,  and  his  peace  to  keep 
them  for  ever  in  perfect  peace. 

A character  for  stability,  moreover,  may  justly  be  attri- 
buted to  this  parish.  Here,  where,  for  two  centuries  and 


43 


more,  divine  worship  and  the  ordinances  of  religion  have 
been  statedly  observed,  where  a succession  of  ministers  — 
with  less  than  usual  interruption  — has  been  sustained,  and 
where,  through  all  that  extended  period,  wise  and  good  and 
devout  men  have  watched  and  prayed,  endured  and  perse- 
vered, we  may  look  for  something  stable,  and  not,  I trust, 
look  in  vain.  Not  the  stability  which  dwells  in  the  past, 
rests  where  they  who  preceded  us  stood,  abjures  innovation, 
denies  the  claim  of  any  superiority  of  light  or  virtue  in  the 
present  over  the  ages  gone ; still  less  that  which  contents 
itself  with  inactivity,  and  neither  cherishes  the  desire,  nor 
puts  forth  effort,  for  a higher  and  better  spiritual  life  than 
has  yet  been  reached:  but  that  which  looks  before  and 
around  no  less  than  behind ; with  due  veneration  for  the  past, 
mingles  just  reference  to  the  present  and  the  future ; moves 
forward  with  open  eye  and  elastic  step,  ready  to  discern  and 
walk  in  the  ways,  commands,  and  ordinances,  and  through 
the  scenes  of  duty  and  trial,  designed  by  Heaven,  and  to 
which  its  unerring  finger  points.  An  enlightened  conserva- 
tism, combined  with  earnest  desire  and  endeavor  after  pro- 
gress, and  based  on  the  scriptural  formula,  — steadfast  and 
immovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  — 
has  with  us  been  sought,  and,  we  will  hope,  in  some  good 
measure,  though  very  far  from  what  it  should  have  been, 
attained.  This  is  the  only  stability  on  which,  as  indivi- 
duals, as  members  of  society,  or  a Christian  church,  we  can, 
amid  the  vicissitudes  of  earth,  and  under  the  grand  law  of 
change  passed  on  all  human  things,  securely  repose. 

How  wide  and  unceasing  is  the  operation  of  that  law ! 
What  change  has  been  going  on  since  this  spot  was  set 
apart  and  consecrated  to  religious  uses,  to  which  it  has 
from  the  first  been  devoted,  for  the  place  of  our  worship ! 


44 


During  that  period,  our  country  has  been  mostly  reclaimed 
from  the  savage  and  from  solitude,  and  our  nation  all  but  cre- 
ated. Who  can  describe,  or  merely  count,  the  changes  that 
have  in  that  period  taken  place  relating  to  material,  social, 
and  religious  objects,  the  world  of  matter  and  mind  within 
and  around  us  ? The  spot  itself — while  so  many  and  vary- 
ing lights  and  shadows  have  been  passing  over  it  — how 
changed,  from  the  lowly  temple  that  stood  near  the  site 
of  our  vestry,  the  humble  nature  of  which  is  indicated  by  a 
vote  passed  sixteen  years  after  its  erection,  “ that  the  meet- 
ing-house be  ceiled  up  to  the  wall-plates,  rabbeted,  and  the 
windows  glazed,”  — through  the  second,  erected  in  1682, 
which  was  superior  to  t^e  first,  but  was  rude  in  its  style  and 
construction,  as  we  may  infer  from  its  having  been  without 
“ laths  and  plaster,”  open  to  the  “ ridge-pole,”  and  its  floor 
having  not,  till  forty  years  after  it  was  built,  been  laid 
“ on  the  beams  with  boards  and  joist,”  — down  to  the  third 
house,  erected  in  1T70,  enlarged  in  ’95,  remodelled  and  for 
the  most  part  rebuilt  in  1835  ; since  which  its  interior  has 
been  improved  and  beautified,  and  rendered  commodious 
and  pleasant  as  we  now  see  it ! If  the  place  and  temples 
show  change,  much  more  do  the  worshippers.  With  the 
eye  of  fancy,  and  in  the  light  of  authentic  record,  we  look,  as 
on  a movable  panorama,  upon  the  assemblies  from  age  to 
age  here  gathered.  We  see  the  earlier  ones  ranged  in  order 
and  lines,  according  to  rank,  age,  sex,  condition,  or  other 
qualifications,  prescribed  by  rule,  except  where  particular 
positions  were  assigned  by  way  of  reward  or  favoi^;  and  the 
later  ones,  with  some  variations,  arranged  after  the  me- 
thods customary  in  our  own  time.  In  each  we  see  reflected 
its ‘peculiar  manners,  habits,  culture  ; its  appointed  discipline 
of  good  and  evil,  joy  and  sorrow,  temptation  and  trial.  As 


45 


we  see  these  all,  so  varying  and  transitory  as  they  have 
been,  we  enter  more  fully  than  we  before  have  done 
into  the  changing  nature  of  human  life  and  experience, 
and  realize  how  changeful  as  well  as  rapid  is  the  stream 
on  which  the  generations  of  men,  and  ourselves  among 
them,  are  borne  onward. 

Instead,  however,  of  further  looking  through  the  two 
centuries  that  have  passed  over  this  parish,  it  is  enough 
only  to  glance  at  the  variegated  aspect  of  the  events  which 
have  occurred  since  we  have  been  together  during  my 
pastorate.  In  that  comparatively  brief  period,  how  have 
society  and  the  world  altered ! and  what  a new  face  has 
come  on  both  ! Wonderful  discoveries  and  inventions 
have  been  multiplied,  by  which  the  domain  of  science  has 
been  vastly  extended,  man’s  social  condition  essentially  va- 
ried and  improved,  and  the  material  creation  itself  greatly 
changed.  Mighty  revolutions  have  shaken  nations  to  their 
foundation,  and  thrones  have  been  set  up  and  overturned. 
Peace  and  war  have  had  their  alternations  in  our  own  and 
most  other  countries.  New  theories  in  government,  mo- 
rals, and  religion,  have  been  broached  ; have  had  their  day, 
and  been  exploded.  New  truths  have  been  proclaimed,  and 
brought  into  use ; old  ones  have  been  set  in  new  and  bet- 
ter lights,  and  so  rendered  more  beneficial.  And  though 
an  awful  cloud  of  sin  casts  its  shadow,  like  a foul  blot,  on 
the  earth,  and  on  all  the  souls  living  upon  it,  and  vice  and 
crime  stalk  abroad  in  high  places  and  low,  I still  believe 
that  the  world,  for  the  last  quarter-century,  has  not  stood 
still  or  receded,  but  has,  on  the  whole,  and  in  vital  respects, 
been  gaining. 

What  changes,  too,  have  time  and  death  — not  to  name 
other  causes  — wrought  around  and  in  the  midst  of  us  in 


46 


the  period  we  are  contemplating ! Those  who,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  it,  were  the  venerated  elders  and  pillars  in 
church  and  state,  — the  fathers,  — where  are  they?  You 
will,  perhaps,  be  surprised  at  the  fact,  that  none  of  the 
pastors  of  the  fourteen  societies  of  our  denomination  in 
Essex  County  remain  where,  at  the  beginning  of  my 
ministry,  I found  them ; and  only  three  of  them  are 
among  the  living.  The  patriarchs  of  the  council  convened 
at  the  time  of  my  ordination  — all  the  aged  persons,  also, 
then  belonging  to  the  parish  — have  since  passed  away. 
The  then  middle-aged  have  grown  old  ; the  then  young 
have  glided  into  maturity.  Nearly  an  entire  generation 
has  come  upon  the  stage  of  life,  while  another  has  left  it. 
A congregation  of  itself  has  been  added  from  among  us 
to  the  congregation  of  the  dead.  — Here  we  pause  to  drop 
the  tear  of  remembrance  for  the  many  whom  Death  has  not 
permitted  to  continue  with  us ; whom  that  stern  reaper  has 
gathered  in,  whether  in  the  early  flower,  or  mature  vigor, 
or  full  ripeness.  At  the  call  of  memory,  there  is  scarcely  a 
seat  here,  or  house,  or  family;  “no  flock,  however  tended ; ” 
scarcely  a region  of  earth  or  a sea,  — that  does  not  give  up 
our  dead.  In  all  kindness  and  tenderness,  we  greet  their 
images  as  they  rise  freshly  to  view.  For  some,  officers 
and  members,  tried  friends  and  supporters,  of  this  church 
and  society,  and  of  whatever  is  good,  the  tears  of  recent  and 
sad  bereavement  freely  flow.  Do  we  not  still  hear  the  sound 
of  departing  wings  as  their  spirits  take  the  upward  flight  ? 
Do  they  not  seem  to  linger,  that  they  may  dispense  heavenly 
benedictions,  and  give  parting  assurances  that  their  guardian 
care  and  love  will  not  cease  to  watch  over  these  scenes  they 
loved  so  well  ? 

Great  and  often  trying  as  are  the  changes  and  the  whole 


47 


vicissitude  of  life,  we  can  hardly  doubt  their  necessity,  any 
more  than  we  can  escape  their  occurrence.  Because  they 
have  no  changes,  says  a sacred  oracle,  they  fear  not  God. 
These  are  needed  by  men  and  Christians,  alone  and  indi- 
vidually, or  in  groups  and  societies.  They  are  often 
indispensably  necessary  to  arrest  attention,  and  prompt  to 
vigilance  and  exertion.  A quiet,  undisturbed  current  of 
events  has  done  unspeakable  harm  to  men,  and  to  bodies 
of  men,  by  lulling  to  indifference,  negligence,  and  in- 
efficiency ; and  so  banishing,  not  only  the  fear  of  God,  but 
concern  and  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  man.  Even  harmony 
and  peace  may  thus  become  the  bane  of  a Christian  society 
and  church.  Welcome,  then,  change.  Let  it  come  ; let  it 
come  fast  and  often,  and  in  all  its  Heaven-appointed  variety. 
It  is  a blessed  monitor  and  guide  ; it  may  be,  a comforter 
and  healer.  It  brings  balm  from  Gilead,  — a medicine  for 
the  mind,  from  the  great  Physician.  By  it  souls  may  be 
reformed,  enlarged,  built  up  to  celestial  grace  and  beauty ; 
to  sum  all  in  two  words,  — sanctified,  saved.  And  though 
it  may  at  times  be  trying,  and  hard  to  bear ; may  administer 
a rude  shock ; be  appalling  even  to  the  sensibilities  ; may  be 
for  the  present  not  joyous,  but  grievous ; and  we  might  not 
be  prepared  to  delight  in  it  for  its  own  sake,  — we  may  yet 
rejoice  in  the  blessing  it  carries  with  it,  of  which  we  are 
invited,  nay  urged,  to  partake  in  full.  We  may,  moreover, 
rejoice  that  the  changing  universe  is  presided  over  and 
ordered  by  Him  who  doetli  all  things  rightly  and  well ; 
who  has  and  needs  no  changes ; with  whom  is  no  variable- 
ness, or  shadow  of  turning ; and  in  whom  we  may  repose 
unchanging  and  perfect  trust. 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  and  varied  scenes  through 
which  we  have  passed  together  since  we  were  joined  in  the 


48 


sacred  ties  that  unite  pastor  and  people,  it  is  difficult  for 
me  to  realize  how  extended  the  space  of  time  thus  traversed. 
So  under  bright  and  propitious  skies,  through  green  pastures, 
and  by  still  waters,  has  our  course  been  ; so  harmonious  have 
been  our  relations,  and  mutual  and  joint  action  ; and,  in  look- 
ing back  on  them,  — having  no  note  of  discord,  no  asperities 
of  feeling,  not  an  unkind  word  or  look,  that  I am  aware  of, 
to  disturb  or  mar  the  review,  but  bathed,  as  it  were,  in  an 
atmosphere  of  love  and  good-will,  — I feel  like  a traveller 
beguiled  as  to  the  length  of  his  way  by  its  pleasantness. 
In  the  first  sermon  after  my  ordination,  I said,  “ Here  would 
I live  and  work ; and  here,  in  your  service,  would  I have 
my  earthly  labors  and  conflicts  end.”  I then  thought,  if  it 
should  be  God’s  will,  and  for  our  reciprocal  benefit,  to  live  and 
die,  their  chosen  and  devoted  pastor,  among  this  my  own 
people.  Being,  however,  not  of  firm  constitution,  I ex- 
pected my  ministry,  if  continued  to  the  close  of  my  life, 
long  ere  this  to  have  terminated,  and  to  have  passed,  with 
my  soul,  before  the  final  Judge.  But  it  has  been  otherwise 
appointed. 

And  now  it  only  remains  for  me  to  bid  you,  my  respected 
and  beloved  parishioners,  adieu ; which  I utter,  not  so  much 
as  indicative  of  parting,  much  less  of  final  leave,  as  in 
its  higher  meaning,  — God  be  with  you.  So  I say,  Farewell : 
in  the  most  literal  sense,  fare  ye  well ! May  you  partake 
most  richly  of  temporal  and  spiritual  good!  My  earnest 
hope  is,  that,  present  or  absent,  I may  hear  of  your  affairs, 
that  ye  stand  fast  in  the  unity,  order,  purity,  and  excellence 
of  our  holy  faith,  and  are  constantly  strengthened  and 
elevated  therein.  Especially  is  it  my  desire  that  you  may 
be  endued  with  the  highest  wisdom  for  the  choice  of  one  to 
fill  the  place  now  to  be  vacated.  If,  in  due  season,  a pastor 


49 


after  your  own  hearts,  and  approved  of  God,  be  granted  you, 
my  heart,  I assure  you,  will  equally  rejoice,  and  one  of  its 
dearest  wishes  be  fulfilled.  Be  assured,  also,  that  the  kind- 
ness here  shared  by  me  and  mine,  and  the  sweet  counsel 
and  many  happy  days  and  years  we  have  had  together,  will 
not  fade  from  my  memory ; that  the  tenderest  chords  of  my 
breast  will  not  cease  to  vibrate  in  unison  with  your  welfare  ; 
and  that  my  fervent  prayers  will  continually  ascend  for 
Heaven’s  best  blessings  on  you  and  yours,  with  whom  I have 
been  so  long,  so  intimately,  and  so  sacredly  associated. 


7 


r 


APPENDIX. 


The  following  is  a copy  of  Mr.  Thayer’s  letter  of  resigna- 
tion, and  of  the  record  of  proceedings  of  the  parish  in 
answer  to  it : — 


Hon.  Robert  Rantoul. 


Bevekly,  April  6,  1858. 


Dear  Sir,  — I resign  into  your  hands,  and  through  you,  as 
Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee,  to  the  First  Parish,  the 
pastoral  office,  which,  for  considerably  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century,  has  been  so  harmoniously,  and  to  myself  so  happily,  sus- 
tained. IVl^^esdgnation,  I propose,  should  take  effect  on  the  1st 
of  d&iy  next  s^eP  has  no^  been  taken  without  earnest  de- 
liberation, and  a sense  tender  and  sacred  ties  which 

bind,  and  always 
ministered  during 
changing  aspects  of 
not  wholly  justify,  it ; 
least,  from  the  labors 
other  claims  and  duties, 
my  present  relation  to  the 
trust,  that  its  prosperity 
and  with  the  assurance  of 
welfare  of  all  its  mem 


Most  resi 


52 


no  nr\-n 


A communication  from  the  Rev.  Christopher  T.  Thayer,  in 
which  he  proposes  to  resign  his  pastoral  relations  to  this  parish, 
having  been  read  and  considered,  it  was  thereupon  unanimously 
voted  to  accept  thereof. 

Resolved , That  we  deeply  regret  the  impaired  condition  of  his 
health,  which  (with  other  considerations  of  a private  nature)  has 
rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  ask  a release  from  pastoral  labors  ; 
and,  in  view  of  the  dissolution  of  a connection  now  of  more  than 
twenty-eight  years’  standing,  we  rejoice  that  it  has  been  so  har- 
moniously and  happily  sustained  during  the  whole  of  this  period, 
and  that  the  separation  takes  place  with  only  the  kindest  feelings 
on  the  part  of  pastor  and  people. 

Penetrated  with  the  strong  expressions  of  the  affectionate  in- 
terest of  our  pastor  in  every  member  of  his  parish,  in  accepting 
his  resignation,  we  would  cordially  reciprocate  the  kind  sentiments 
he  has  expressed  towards  us,  and  offer  him  our  best  wishes  for  the 
restoration  of  his  health,  and  a continuance  of  his  usefulness  and 
happiness. 

Resolved , That  his  faithful  and  arduous  labors  through  the 
whole  duration  of  his  ministry,  in  relation  to  the  municipal  inte- 
rests of  the  town,  deserve  the  grateful  recollection  and  acknow-  _ 
ledgment  of  the  people ; and  we  earnestly  hope  tjhat  a cotfJJMVUd 
residence  among  us  will  enable  us  to  enjoy,  jfs  heretofore,  the 
influence  of  his  example,  the  benefit,  of  his  talents  and  varied  ex- 
perience, and  of  his  ljffjfiiflriB|^^^^|^i4ocial,  moral,  and  reli- 


jopy  of  resolutions  passed 
bers  of  the  First  Parish  in 


Robert  Rantoul, 

Parish  Clerk. 


